Jonquel Jones named WNBA MVP as Connecticut Sun start playoffs with three WNBA awards as semifinals start

In terms of hardware, Jonquel Jones already had WNBA Most Improved Player (2017) and Sixth Player of the Year (2018) awards.

The Connecticut Sun forward can add another, much more prestigious, honor now.

Jones was one vote shy of being named a unanimous MVP, receiving 48 of 49 first-place votes. Brittany Griner of the Phoenix Mercury got the other first-place vote and finished second in the voting. Breanna Stewart (Seattle Storm) was third.

Leading the league in rebounding for the third time in five years (2017, 2019, 2021), Jones (11.2 boards per game) scored a career-high 19.4 points per game. She also averaged 2.8 assists, another career best, as the Sun finished with the league's best record (26-6).

Connecticut racked up the awards Tuesday, with Curt Miller winning coach of the year and Brionna Jones taking home most improved player.

The Sun face the Chicago Sky in a best-of-five semifinals starting Tuesday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2). They finished the season on a 14-game winning streak to earn home-court advantage throughout the postseason.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Connecticut Sun's Jonquel Jones wins 2021 WNBA MVP