Speakers and Awardees

Jonquel Jones, B.A. ’19, is the 2021 WNBA most valuable player and reigning MVP of the WNBA Finals for the champion New York Liberty.

Before her stardom in the WNBA, the top women’s professional basketball league in the world, Jones put together a historic career in the buff and blue that earned her an eventual enshrinement in the GW Athletics Hall of Fame. During her time at GW, Jones earned both Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in 2015, just the fourth player in conference history to earn both accolades in a single season. She twice led GW to the NCAA Tournament.

Beyond the WNBA, Jones has made significant contributions on the international professional stage. She played for Asan Woori Bank in Korea, Shanxi Flame in China and UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia, where she won championships and earned accolades such as the WKBL defensive player of the year and foreign MVP. In 2022, she joined Çukurova Basketbol in Turkey and later led Inner Mongolia to the finals of the Chinese Women’s Basketball Association.

Internationally, Jones has represented Bosnia and Herzegovina, where she set EuroBasket Women records and earned a spot on the All-Tournament team in 2021.

Her accolades also include five All-Star selections, multiple All-WNBA first and second team honors and an WNBA blocks title in 2019.

Off the court, Jones serves as a role model for young athletes, particularly women. She has used her platform and her own story as a member of the LGBTIA+ community to advocate for equality and inclusion in sports, encouraging the empowerment of women and promoting diversity in athletics. Recently, she was named one of USA Today’s Women of the Year, a recognition of women who have made significant impact in their communities and across the country.