Jonquel Jones and Jasmine Thomas of the Connecticut Sun have earned themselves a second trip to Seattle.

Jones and Thomas were selected to start for the Eastern Conference in the WNBA All-Star Game on July 22 at Seattle, the league announced Tuesday.

The Sun play at the Seattle Storm on Wednesday afternoon (Key Arena, 3 p.m.) as part of a difficult back-to-back West Coast trip. After playing against Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart and the talented — but unpredictable — Storm (8-9), the Sun fly out to California for a Thursday night game against the defending champion Los Angeles Sparks (12-5). The Sparks should be in a foul mood after losing their last two games. 

It is the first All-Star appearance for Jones and Thomas and both have been big reasons for Connecticut’s astounding turnaround. The franchise had been one of the league's worst the previous four seasons. The Sun started 1-5 this year, but have since won 9 of their last 11 and are first in the East and fourth in the overall standings.

“I’m really excited that we have two All-Star starters,” Sun head coach and general manager Curt Miller said in a press release. “I think it’s a reflection of team success. Those two will be the first to give credit back to their teammates. It’s a team effort. We don’t play through one person on this team, we share the basketball, and those two exemplify that.”

Thomas, 27, has enjoyed the best season of her seven-year career. The point guard has averaged career highs in scoring (15.0), assists (5.2) and steals (1.4). Her most remarkable growth has been as a 3-point shooter. She was a career 29.6 percent 3-point shooter prior to this year and never made more than 31 in a season. She’s made 35 this year and is third in the league in shooting percentage (47.9). She was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week last week.

“It has not been a straight path to get here,” Thomas said. “Three teams and seven seasons later it definitely feels good. I’m super excited and happy to be with my teammates. I’m definitely excited and it means a lot. For the people who voted for me, the media, everybody to believe in me that much, it wouldn’t be possible without being on a team like I am. I feel like I’m representing Connecticut there.”

Jones, 23, was voted by WNBA general managers as the player most likely to have a breakout year prior to this season. The second-year center has more than lived up to their expectations thus far. She’s become a full-time starter and averaged a team-high 15.9 points and a league-leading 11.8 rebounds. She was June's Eastern Conference Player of the Month.

“To me it means a lot in my second year in the league,” Jones said. “It’s a credit to everybody that is a part of this organization, from the coaches believing in me to my teammates staying in my ear. I’m really happy that I have this opportunity and I’m happy I can do this for Connecticut.”

Fans account for 50 percent of the vote, while current players and a basketball media panel account for 25 percent each.

Five of the 10 starters are UConn graduates. Center Tina Charles (New York Liberty) and guard Tiffany Hayes (Atlanta Dream) will play for the East. Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury) and Bird will start for the West.

Washington Mystics forward Elena Delle Donne rounds out the East’s starting lineup. Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles and forward Candace Parker of the Los Angeles Sparks will also start for the West.

The reserves will be chosen by WNBA coaches and announced during ESPN2’s telecast of the Chicago Sky at Seattle Storm game on Tuesday, July 18.

Connecticut forward Alyssa Thomas has a strong case to be chosen as a reserve as she’s yet another Sun player with a strong candidacy for the WNBA's Most Improved Player honor. The versatile four-year veteran has averaged 14.2 points and 6.1 rebounds. She’s also tied for fourth in the league in steals (1.7) and sixth in assists (5.1), the highest for any non-guard.

Thomas had the fourth-most votes for an East frontcourt player in both the player and media voting.

n.griffen@theday.com