Why WNBA Star Jonquel Jones Just Went to Grand Bahama

WNBA All-Star and New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones returned to Grand Bahama earlier this month to host her first one-day basketball skills clinic — a milestone event aimed at inspiring young female athletes across the island. Held at the Eight Mile Rock High School Gymnasium, the clinic welcomed dozens of girls from primary through senior high school for a full day of hands-on training, mentorship, and motivation.

Jones, a Grand Bahama native, led the program alongside a local coaching team, guiding participants through four stations focused on dribbling, ball-handling, passing and shooting. The day also included friendly competitions, highlighted by a spirited game of “knockout” that brought energy to the packed gym.

The Bahamas’ Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture supported the event by providing lunch for all participants. Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey and Kingsley Smith, MP for West Grand Bahama and Bimini and Parliamentary Secretary, attended to cheer on the athletes and acknowledge Jones’ growing impact on the community.

Moxey praised Jones as a local icon whose influence reaches far beyond the court. “Jonquel Jones is a hero to this community, to Grand Bahama, and to The Bahamas,” she said, noting that the clinic fulfills a long-held dream for the WNBA star and aligns with national goals for youth and sports development. “It’s amazing to watch these girls learn, grow, and enjoy every moment.”

Smith also commended Jones’ leadership and used the moment to spotlight ongoing improvements to the EMR gymnasium.

“This showcases the government’s investment in this newly renovated gymnasium,” he said. “I’m proud to say we now have the best gym on Grand Bahama, and having a WNBA star use it to inspire our youth is truly amazing.”

For Jones, the clinic is just the beginning of a broader commitment to expanding sports access for young women on the island. “This is our first clinic this year, but we want to continue growing more clinics, more camps, more opportunities for girls,” she said. “This is where I started, this is where my roots are, and I want to grow this sport on this island as a whole.”

She added that the girls embraced the training from the start, noting how quickly they leaned into the fundamentals. Returning to the same gym where she spent many of her own summers made the experience especially meaningful. “The kids are ecstatic. Some even came up to me saying they’re fans. To hear that here, in the community where I grew up and where I spent so much time in this gym, it means a lot.”

Jones hopes to build the clinic into an annual program with deeper partnerships and wider reach — a continued investment in the next generation of Bahamian basketball talent.