The New York Liberty made their long-awaited return to the WNBA Finals last night as they beat the Connecticut Suns by a score of 87-84. This win saw the Liberty return to their first WNBA Finals in over two decades. They last made it in 2002. The NY-based team has largely been unsuccessful in this domain, having lost 4 WNBA Finals prior to this appearance. However, the Liberty faithful will still be optimistic about their chances as they look to earn their first-ever WNBA championship.

Defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces, will be looking for revenge against their Eastern conference counterparts having lost the Commissioner’s Cup against them earlier this year. The Liberty’s win over the Suns gave a glimpse into what is to come. Physical confrontations will be a highlight of the series. Former Suns forward Jonquel Jones spoke on the physical battle after the game as she bulldozed her ex-teammate out of the playoffs climax.

Jonquel Jones reveals what Alyssa Thomas said to her after the Suns playoff defeat

Jonquel Jones returned to the Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday as she helped the NY Liberty demolish her former team in the semi-final. Having spent her entire career with the Suns, Jones left the side earlier this year as she joined the Liberty hoping to win her first WNBA title.

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While she looks well on course to achieve that dream, her exploits on the night saw her gain some unnecessary attention. She bulldozed her former teammate, Alyssa Thomas, to the ground during a play.

During the fourth quarter of the match, both athletes went for a loose rebound but ended with Jones landing awkwardly on top of Alyssa Thomas. This clash resulted in the Suns’ star being escorted off the court before making a swift return moments later.

Jones was later questioned by ESPN’s Holly Rowe on what her former teammate had to say about the altercation. The Bosnian joked, “She said I smashed her head. But I told her it was not intentional, and that’s one of my closest friends in the league.”

The stage is set for the WNBA Finals

The 2023 WNBA Finals looks to be an exciting one as the New York Liberty vies off against the Las Vegas Aces in a 5-game series. Having shared 2 wins each during the regular season, both teams were levels above the rest as they won 30+ games during the course of the season. While the Aces boasted the better record between the two, it was Stewarts’ Liberty that took home the Commissioner’s Cup earlier this year.

With the playing field on level, both teams will look to start strongly as the MVP contenders Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson reignite their rivalry. The two stars are, undoubtedly, the leaders of their respective teams. However, individuals like Kelsey Plum and NBA record-breaking 3-point shooter Sabrina Ionescu could be the deciding factor, as the 2023 WNBA season comes to a close.

Will Commissioners Cup MVP Jonquel Jones play an important role in the team? Or is she a liability given her physical side to the game? Let us know in the comments below.

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