The 34 year-old won three Olympic titles in 2000 but was later stripped of her medals after admitting she used performance-enhancing drugs.
She announced last autumn that she planned to join the WNBA and has trained with several teams. She was previously drafted by Phoenix Mercury in 2003, but never made an appearance.
Franchise president Steve Swetoha insists Jones deserves a shot at redemption, and said: "She made some ill-advised decisions in the past, but everyone deserves a second chance to excel at something they love.
"The city of Tulsa gave a struggling franchise from Detroit a second chance, and I'm confident it will do the same for Marion. We couldn't be happier to have her on board."
Jones added: "I may not be your typical rookie in this league, but I'll still bring that rookie energy. I'm looking forward to competing against the best female athletes in the world."
1 comment:
Very few, if any, ex-Olympic track stars have attempted to play in a major sports league. I hope she has a successful career in the WNBA. If Jones is able to help the Shock win a championship, I still don’t think it will ease the pain she suffered when she was stripped of the five Olympic medals she won at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney.
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