New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones answers five fashion questions

In Super Squads, The Athletic follows the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces in their quests to win a WNBA championship. Our reporters will tell the stories of the players on two of the most star-studded teams in league history and examine how their paths shape the future of the WNBA. All fashion items discussed were identified using Lens in the Google App.

NEW YORK — In 2017, Jonquel Jones elected to wear a striped earth-tone dress to the Orange Carpet for that year’s All-Star Game. Five years later, she told ESPN that when she looked at the outfit, “I cringe because I know it wasn’t me. I was trying too hard to be something I wasn’t.”

Seven years after entering the professional ranks, having amassed a decorated resume that includes 2021 WNBA MVP honors, four All-Star appearances, a WNBA Most Improved award and a Sixth Player of the Year award, the New York Liberty center says her style “completely changed.”

Before the Liberty recently faced off against the Seattle Storm, Jones entered the arena with comfort in mind, wearing a black sweatshirt and black washed jeans. “It’s raining outside, and I’m just coming to the gym,” she says. Comfort was again top of mind two nights later ahead of the matchup against the Dream, when she wore a pair of Jordans, a short-sleeve Kith shirt, jeans and a pair of Prada sunglasses. “Nice little bun. Keeping it cool. Keeping it fresh,” she says.

Through the rest of the season, The Athletic will be surveying WNBA players about their off-court style as part of our Super Squads project. We’ll provide a glimpse into another facet of players’ lives and highlights more about who they are as individuals. The following Q&A exchange occurred after a Liberty game at the end of July.

How has your style changed since entering the WNBA?

My style is completely changed. I found myself coming into this league. I always tell people that when I came into this league and I saw so many strong LGBTQ lesbian women in this league being themselves and being open about it, it gave me the courage to do what I do. You can ask Betnijah (Laney), when I was in Connecticut I used to wear dresses and stuff. It wasn’t me, but I just wasn’t comfortable. (The league) has just allowed me to be myself.

How do you think style has changed around the league more broadly?

The biggest change I think I’ve seen is that I think league fits now has a big microscope on it. Like people actually shine a light on unique fits, and you got GQ and other people tuning in. And it’s on a lot of the major media pages and stuff. I think that’s great for our league.

Do you have a stylist?

I pick my own clothes out, but I think next year I’m gonna change that. It’s a lot of stress, you know. There’s a lot of stress, especially (because of) my small New York closet, there’s only so much clothes…