The WNBA’s Washington Mystics have announced that assistant coach Asjha Jones will leave the team to join the Portland Trail Blazers as their Director of Basketball Strategy.
“Asjha has been an important part of our success the past several years,” Mystics General Manager and Head Coach Mike Thibault said in a news release sent out by the WNBA franchise.
“While I am sad to see her leave on both a professional and personal level, I am excited for her and the opportunity in front of her in Portland. She will be a tremendous asset to the Trail Blazers organization. I have known Asjha since I first began coaching her in Connecticut in 2004, and she is one of the best all-around pros on and off the court, that I have had the pleasure to be associated with. All of us here wish her well in her new job.”
The Blazers have officially confirmed that they have hired Jones. Here’s a little information on her.
Asjha played 11 years in the WNBA, and according to her WNBA player profile, she was selected by Washington (4th overall) in the 2002 WNBA Draft. The Mystics signed and traded Jones to the Connecticut Sun in a three-team deal.
In addition to the Mystics (2002-2003) and the Sun (2004-2012), she spent 2015 playing for the Minnesota Lynx and teams internationally over the years. The 6’3 power forward averaged10.9 points, 4.8 rebounds in 368 games played. Jones is the only person in woman’s basketball history to win an NCAA championship (University of Connecticut) and WNBA championship (Minnesota) and as an assistant coach. The newest member of the Trail Blazers staff won gold medals as a player in both the World Championships and Olympic Games. She is also a 2x WNBA All-Star.
NBC Sports Northwest’s Dwight Jaynes reports that the position will be on President of Basketball Operations, Neil Olshey’s Basketball Operations staff. With the Blazers currently struggling in the playoff race, any extra resource can be used in the front office.
Could this be a signal of future hirings made within the front office? Stay tuned!