The first major domino of the WNBA offseason fell this weekend, as the Liberty acquired Jonquel Jones from the Sun in a three-team trade. The deal, which also included the Wings, ends Jones’ six-year stint with the Sun, the team that drafted her in 2016.
In the trade, New York acquired Jones and Kayla Thornton from Dallas. In return, Connecticut gets Tyasha Harris from Dallas, plus Rebecca Allen and the No. 6 pick in the 2023 draft from New York. The Wings receive Crystal Dangerfield and Natasha Howard from the Liberty.
Just Women’s Sports assigns a grade to each team based on the deal.
New York Liberty: A
Let’s start with the obvious: The Liberty dominated this trade. They get a former MVP in Jones, who also happens to be one of the league’s most versatile players, as well as a consistent utility player in Thornton.
Howard represents the biggest loss for the Liberty in the deal, not only because of her talent (she’s a two-time All-Star and an excellent defender) but also because of her experience. The 31-year-old forward has three titles to her name.
Still, Jones is an upgrade. Statistically, she is better in nearly every category — and at 6-foot-6, Jones is a…
