Sun's Brionna Jones Out for Rest Of WNBA Season With Torn Achilles Injury

Connecticut Sun center Brionna Jones will miss the remainder of the 2023 WNBA season due to a torn Achilles tendon.

The Sun announced that Jones underwent successful surgery Friday after suffering the injury during Tuesday's 85-79 win over the Seattle Storm.

Jones released a statement regarding the season-ending injury and her road to recovery, saying:

"First, I want to thank everyone who has reached out over the last few days. All of the love I've received has truly been a blessing as I've gone through this tough time. While this is not how I envisioned this season ending for me, I am determined and ready to head into the next stage of recovery and rehab.

"I know I have an amazing support system behind me, and I will return on the other side of this stronger than ever. I'm definitely going to miss competing every night with this incredible group of women the most, but I am excited to see this team continue to flourish and accomplish great things this season."

The Sun, who reached the WNBA Finals last season, are the top team in the Eastern Conference this season with an 11-3 record.

The 27-year-old Jones starred at the University of Maryland before Connecticut made her the eighth overall pick in the 2017 WNBA draft.

She has grown into one of the WNBA's top players in recent years, earning All-Star honors in 2021 and 2022, and also winning the 2021 WNBA Most Improved Player award and the 2022 WNBA Sixth Player of the Year award.

Jones averaged a career-high 14.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 2021 and followed it it up with averages of 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists last season.

Prior to getting injured, Jones was on pace for her best season yet, averaging 15.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.8 steals in 13 games, while also shooting 57.1 percent from the field.

Jones was leading the WNBA in offensive rebounds per game with 3.2 and also ranked fifth in steals, ninth in field goal percentage, 10th in rebounding and 20th in scoring.

In their first game since Jones' season-ending injury, the Sun rallied together and blew out the Minnesota Lynx by an 89-68 score Thursday.

Connecticut will look to extend its winning streak to four in a row when it hosts the Chicago Sky on Sunday.