It’s the vision to rewrite what it means to be a champion! In a space where the roar of the crowd often drowns out quieter victories, there are moments when it hits you…these ballers are so much more than just basketball stars. Well, proving the same we have Jonquel Jones. Alongside MVP, championship, and All-Star nods, she’s now added another title to her name – Doctor. W has its own “Dr. J,” but unlike NBA’s Julius Winfield Erving (Dr. J), who is just affectionately called Doctor, she has a doctorate degree.
Jones was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from The George Washington University (GWU), where she finished her undergraduate studies in 2019. In case you’re not aware, an honorary degree is a special shoutout from a university or college to someone who’s made outstanding contributions in their field or to society.
JJ’s journey to this honor started when she transferred from Clemson and joined GW. There, she built a historic college career with the Buff and Blue – twice leading the team to the NCAA Tournament and becoming only the third player in school history to rack up over 1,000 points, 800 rebounds, and 100 blocks.
Fast forward to 2025, and Jones was front and center at GW’s commencement ceremony, which is pretty special in itself. GW holds its graduation on the National Mall, making it the only university with a ceremony right in the heart of D.C. Her presence highlighted not only her basketball success but also her off-court work.
Call her MVP Jonquel Jones PhD pic.twitter.com/SsP1QiAfjK
— Tanya (@ScriptedTanya) May 18, 2025
She’s become a household name in professional women’s basketball – and beyond – thanks to her efforts in social justice, mental health awareness, and LGBTQ+ visibility in sports. During her speech, Jonquel reminded graduates of something important: that civic engagement is a key part of what makes a GW education special.
She encouraged them to “trust your instincts” as they step into the next chapters of their lives. “Your gut doesn’t lie,” she said. Reflecting on her own decision to come to GW, she shared how she learned to lean into that inner voice, reminding everyone that it’s not just noise, it’s real wisdom.
And clearly, trusting her gut has worked out pretty well for her.
But she isn’t alone in the basketball world to hold this degree. NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal also earned a doctorate. Actually, a legitimate, research-based PhD in human resource development from Barry University, completed in 2020. Shaq told the Miami Herald that his degree wasn’t honorary; he put in “four and a half hard years” of late nights studying, reading, and rewriting papers. “The work was very rigorous, but very enjoyable,” he said.
And some NBA players have honorary doctorates too – like Dikembe Mutombo, or Michael Jordan, who was given an honorary doctorate in Engineering and Technology from Yale. So next time you think about these athletes, remember: their hustle goes way beyond the game.
Even before stepping into the pro league.
WNBA rookies straight from graduation to game day
Washington Mystics’ Kiki Iriafen had every reason to celebrate just before the season opener. Fresh off practice, she rocked a black graduation cap, soaking in some well-deserved joy – and grabbing some fun clips for social media alongside fellow rookie Lucy Olsen, who’s graduating from Iowa.
Kiki isn’t your typical graduate who’s counting down to the big ceremony. She actually earned her master’s degree in entrepreneurship and innovation from USC’s Marshall School of Business just a bit earlier. Before that, she got her undergrad at Stanford, where she studied product design and mechanical engineering.
Even last month, USC named her the Academic All-America Team Member of the Year for Division I, which just adds to her list of wins. When asked about missing this year’s traditional ceremony, Kiki shrugged it off. “I graduated early last year, so I had my big graduation,” she said. “I’m not super sad about it this year. Honestly, I’m more excited I get to play basketball instead.”
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 09: USC Trojans forward Kiki Iriafen 44 warms up before the womenÕs college basketball game between the Cal Poly Mustangs and the USC Trojans on November 9, 2024 at Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA. Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire COLLEGE BASKETBALL: NOV 09 Women s – Cal Poly at USC EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon241109068
Then, we’ve got Connecticut Sun’s newbie Aneesah Morrow, who also officially graduated from Louisiana State University (LSU) with a degree in Communication and Media after starting her college journey at DePaul University. And it’s not just her game that’s on point. Off the court, Aneesah has kept up a strong academic record, earning a spot on the 2022–23 Academic All-America Third Team.
So, all in all, balancing school and basketball is no small feat, but these rookies are proving it’s possible to shine in both worlds. Now, as they meet on the big stage, they bring same poise and hustle with them. In a recent face-off, these two rookies went head-to-head and Kiki Iriafen really shined, dropping a solid double-double and helped the Washington Mystics spoil the Connecticut Sun’s season opener with a 90-85 win on Sunday.
This is just the beginning. We can’t wait to see how their stories unfold- on the court and off it.
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