Asjha Jones Signs New Contract with Connecticut Sun

By the Connecticut Sun
Posted Wednesday, August 13, 2008

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (August 13, 2008) — The Connecticut Sun announced today it has signed veteran forward Asjha Jones to a three-year contract extension.

Per team policy, no terms were released.

“Extending Asjha to a long-term contract makes good business sense,” Sun general manager Chris Sienko said. “Trading for her in 2004 was based in part on her potential as an athlete and which has no doubt paid great dividends. Keeping Asjha here was a top priority for us, and we are very pleased with this new contract.”

In her fifth season with Connecticut, Jones is averaging a team-high 16.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. She has been the high scorer for the Sun in 16 games this season, including a franchise-record 10 straight contests from June 16th through July 8th. Her play helped propel the Sun to a 16-10 mark and first place in the Eastern Conference prior to the Olympic Break.

“I’m just excited knowing that Asjha is going to be here for the next several years,” Sun coach Mike Thibault said. “What she’s done to become a prime time player in this league is terrific. She’s done everything you
could ask a player to do to become a leader and a go-to player. She’s going to be an All Star for a long, long time. She’s a major reason for why we are where we are. I think it’s a credit to her that when she came here
people were talking about her being one of the most improved players in the league. Now, people are talking about her being one of the best players in the league.”

Jones was originally drafted by the Washington Mystics with the fourth overall selection in the 2002 WNBA Draft. She played two seasons in Washington before she was acquired by Connecticut in a three-way deal that
also involved Phoenix. The Sun traded the eighth overall pick in the 2004 WNBA Draft to Phoenix, which sent Tamicha Jackson to the Mystics. The Mercury used the pick to select Chandi Jones.

Jones, who has scored 1,808 points in a Sun uniform, surpassed 2,000 career points earlier this season. She is on pace to finish with career highs in points and rebounds this season.

The Connecticut Sun resume their season on August 28th, at Indiana, and will return home to host the Seattle Storm at Mohegan Sun Arena on August 31st at 1 p.m.