NEW YORK – Jonquel Jones of the Connecticut Sun and DeWanna Bonner of the Phoenix Mercury today were named the WNBA’s Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Aug. 13-19.

Jones was named Player of the Week for the first time this season and the third time in her three-year career as Connecticut (21-13) went 3-0 and secured the fourth seed in the 2018 WNBA Playoffs.  She ranked second among Eastern Conference players in scoring (23.3 ppg), third in rebounding (8.0 rpg) and first in field goal percentage (73.5, 25-of-34).  Jones also finished third in blocks (1.67 bpg) and three-point shooting, connecting on 68.8 percent of her shots (11-of-16) from behind the arc.

The 6-6 forward opened the week with 27 points and 10 rebounds in a 96-76 home win over the Dallas Wings on Aug. 14.  She then led the way with 26 points, five rebounds and four blocks in a 96-79 win over the visiting Minnesota Lynx on Aug. 17.  The 2017 WNBA Most Improved Player closed out the week with 17 points, nine boards and seven assists in an 89-86 home win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Aug. 19.

Bonner earned Player of the Week honors for the first time this season and fifth time in her nine-year career.  The three-time winner of the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year award (2009-11) led Phoenix to a 2-0 mark as the Mercury secured the fifth seed in the WNBA Playoffs with a 20-14 overall record.

The 6-4 forward ranked fourth in the West in scoring (22.0 ppg) and first in rebounding (13.0 rpg).  She tied for the lead in steals (3.0 spg) and finished sixth in assists (4.5 apg).

Bonner, who scored at least 20 points in eight of her last 10 games, opened the week with 21 points, a season-high 16 rebounds, seven assists and three steals in a 104-95 win over the visiting Atlanta Dream on Aug. 17.  Two days later, she closed out the week with 23 points and 10 boards in a 96-85 home win over the New York Liberty.

Other candidates for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta’s Alex Bentley and Elizabeth Williams, the Chicago Sky’s Diamond DeShields, Dallas’ Liz Cambage, the Indiana Fever’s Candice Dupree, the Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson, Minnesota’s Sylvia Fowles, the Mercury’s Diana Taurasi, and the Washington Mystics’ Elena Delle Donne.

For more information on the WNBA Players of the Week, visit wnba.com/awards.

The 2018 WNBA playoffs begin on Aug. 21.  For more information on the WNBA and game tickets, fans may visit wnba.com.