2021 WNBA MVP: Sun's Jonquel Jones runs away with award after dominant season

Jones led her team to the best record in the league while putting up career numbers

The WNBA announced Tuesday morning that Connecticut Sun forward Jonquel Jones has been named the 2021 MVP. After sitting out last season due to concerns over COVID-19, Jones came back to the league and put up career numbers. She averaged 19.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. She was fourth in the league in scoring this season, first in rebounding and was one of just two players to average a double-double during the regular season. 

Winning MVP is just the latest award to be added to Jones' trophy case, as she was the 2017 WNBA Most Improved Player, and in 2018 she was named WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year. Winning all three awards makes her the first player in league history to accomplish that feat.

What's even more impressive about her consistent performance all season long is that midway through the WNBA season Jones flew to Europe to compete for Bosnia and Herzegovina to play in the women's EuroBasket tournament. In six games she averaged a ridiculous 24.3 points, 16.8 rebounds, three assists, 1.5 blocks and one steal. Though the time away from the Sun was expected to hurt her chances to win MVP, she only continued her dominance and further proved she was the runaway MVP.

Jones received 48 of the 49 first-place votes for the award, while Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner came in second place. Seattle Storm forward Breanna Stewart came in the third place for the award. Minnesota Lynx center -- and the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year winner -- Sylvia Fowles and Washington Mystics center Tina Charles rounded out the top five in voting.

Led by Jones' dominant play, Connecticut cruised to the highest winning percentage in franchise history (.813), and its 14-game win streak to end the regular season is the fourth-longest in WNBA history. She'll now try and lead the Sun to its first ever championship when they tip off their semifinals series against the Chicago Sky Tuesday night. Connecticut secured the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, which gives them home-court advantage throughout the postseason. The Sun are heavily favored to win it all this season, not only because of Jones, but because they have a great amount of depth and talent on their roster. It's the reason why the Sun also have the 2021 Most Improved Player in Brionna Jones, and the 2021 Coach of the Year in Curt Miller.

Connecticut will begin its quest for a championship at home against Chicago Tuesday night at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2.