wnba

In celebration of her heritage, WNBA superstar Jonquel Jones teamed up with Nike to launch the KD-17 “Bahamas” sneakers, homage to her Bahamian roots and a tribute to the islands.

The sneakers were released on Thursday.

The KD-17 “Bahamas” edition, is inspired by the waters and lush greenery of the Bahamas. The turquoise upper, interlaced with clear wavy overlays, suggests the seas surrounding the islands, while the seafoam green accents on the Swoosh and midsole evokes the vibrant tropical foliage.

The coral-shaded laces add a pop of color, reminiscent of the coral reefs.

The heel of the KD-17 “Bahamas” showcases a debossed map of the Bahamas, a personal touch that signifies Jones’ pride in her heritage.

It is priced at $150 and offer a unique blend of performance and style, suitable for the court and the streets.

Bahamians have joined Jones in celebration of the new sneaker release.

Bahamian Professional Basketball Player Jonquel Jones is planning to marry her girlfriend of more than two years after she proposed.

Jones’ girlfriend said ‘Yes!’ as well-wishers congratulated the couple.

Jones who plays center for the New York Liberty in the Women’s National Basketball Association, announced the engagement to her partner ‘Nesha’ on Instagram while showing the ring and the photoshoot.

“My fiance and I,” Jones happily announced.

Jones grew up in Freeport, Grand Bahama and was named WNBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2021.

The 29-year-old fully embraced her identity as a lesbian in 2019 and showed up at the WNBA All-Star Game dressed in masculine wear.

“I’m openly out and dressing differently,” she said.

Last year though, the gay player expressed to ESPN that her identity may have played a role in her inability to renew a contract with the Bahamas Telecommunications Company, considering an impressive performance on the basketball court in the United States.

Jones’ fiance is a nail technician in the United States. Jones said the pair prays and reads the Bible together every day.

“I just have to take the time to really find God for myself and not what other people tell me who God is,” she told ESPN.

The couple did not say when they would be married, but if they do, it will not be recognized in the Bahamas since same-sex marriage is not constitutional in the country, a departure from trends in the United States.

WNBA star Brittney Griner was freed in a prisoner swap for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer, concluding the whirlwind of delicate negotiations between Russia and the United States.

The United Arab Emirates facilitated the release. According to BBC news, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shares a relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and assisted in co-ordinating swaps of hundreds of prisoners held by Russia and Ukraine.

The big story

Griner was imprisoned for months in Russian prisons and was sentenced to 9 years after she was found with vape cartridges of cannabis oil in her luggage in February.

Bout was sentenced to 25 years in US prisons for conspiracy to kill Americans and has become known as the ‘Merchant of Death’ because he was a gun runner and ran fleets of Soviet-era cargo planes to Africa. He provided support to terrorist organizations and  inspired the film, “Lord of War.”

What President Biden says

“She’s safe. She’s on a plane,” Biden said in brief remarks at the White House Thursday morning. “She’s on her way home. After months of being unjustly detained in Russia, held under intolerable circumstances, Brittney will soon be back in the arms of her loved ones and she should have been there all along. This is a day we’ve worked toward for a long time. We never stopped pushing for her release.”

Bahamian-born professional basketball player Jonquel Jones says she feels safe in Russia though President Vladimir Putin launched an “unprovoked” attack on its neighbor Ukraine.

The 28-year-old WNBA player who plays for Connecticut Sun, took to social media to say, “No changes on my end. If it wasn’t for family members messaging me and me following the news, I really wouldn’t be able to tell.”

But concerned family members are urging her to leave the country.

Jones says her brother advised her to “may case come home and get out dem people yard.”

Other posters on Twitter joined the chorus pressing her to leave Russia as the war intensifies.

Bobbi tells her, “I am glad to hear you all are safe as can be in this situation.  I thought that things on the Russian end wouldn’t escalate immediately. Continue to be aware of all that is going on.”

Patti Talahongva advises, “Come home. Remember the WNBA is so important. We need all of our players safe.”

Another tells her, “Make haste.”

Last week, as tension grew between Russia and Ukraine, the Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Bahamians to leave Ukraine.

Jones, though raised in the Bahamas,  has Bosnian citizenship.