Jones

Asjha Jones on being traded to Connecticut:

“I think it’s exciting to come back to Connecticut because the fans are wonderful, and it’s a family atmosphere. There aren’t many places where women’s basketball is number one, but Connecticut is one of those places.”

The Sun sent their eighth pick in the 2004 WNBA Draft to Phoenix for Jones, a 6-2 power forward originally selected with the fourth pick in the first round of the 2002 WNBA Draft by Washington. Jones agreed to a two-year contract with the Sun. Terms were not disclosed. The Mystics acquired Tamicha Jackson in the deal.

“We’re thrilled to have her,” Sun coach Mike Thibault said of Jones. “This is a young, up-and-coming player. We felt she was a good fit. It doesn’t hurt that she has a fan following in this area, but that is not why the trade was made. The trade was made to make us better.”

A Piscataway, N.J. native who helped lead UConn to a 39-0 mark and a national championship in 2002, Jones appeared in 66 games with 15 starts the last two seasons in Washington. She averaged 7.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. She had a career-high 21 points against Indiana last July 29, and set a career mark with 12 rebounds against the Sun last Aug. 1 at Mohegan Sun Arena.

“We’ve long sought the opportunity to bring Asjha Jones to our team,” Connecticut Sun General Manager Chris Sienko said. “Since last year, it’s been our objective. We think her skills will complement Taj (McWilliams-Franklin) and Brooke (Wyckoff), and significantly improve our frontcourt, which was one of our goals in the offseason.”

Jones is currently playing in Italy for Delta Basket Alessandria of the FIBA European Cup, averaging 16.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists.