The Connecticut Sun signed rookie post Beatrice Mompremier on Tuesday as it tries to fill the void left by all-star Jonquel Jones, who has opted to take the 2020 WNBA season off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mompremier, a 6-foot-4 forward, played her first two collegiate seasons at Baylor before transferring home to play her final two seasons at Miami. She was drafted 20th overall (second round) in April by the Los Angeles Sparks, but was waived in late May.

Mompremier averaged 16.7 points and 12.2 rebounds her senior season and was a 2020 Lisa Leslie Award finalist. She had 34 double-doubles during her two years with the Hurricanes and is just one of three players in program history to reach 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in their career.

"We are excited to add Beatrice to our Sun roster," Sun head coach and general manager Curt Miller said in a release. "She is a young and talented post player with a high ceiling. Beatrice is a proven collegiate rebounder and crafty scorer who will have the ability to contribute during her rookie season."

The addition of Mompremier was necessitated after Jones announced Monday that she was sitting this season out. The four-year veteran has been one of Connecticut’s best players and had one of her finest seasons in 2019. She started all 42 games, including the Sun’s postseason run to the WNBA Finals, was named to the All-WNBA second-team for a second time and was a WNBA All-Defensive first-team pick.

Jones scored a team-high 14.6 points last regular season and led the league in both rebounding (9.7) and blocks (2.0). Her absence left the Sun with only veteran reserves Brionna Jones and Theresa Plaisance at post.

The WNBA announced last week its plans to start an abbreviated 22-game season in late July using facilities at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. The regular season had been scheduled to start on May 15 but was postponed indefinitely in April due to the pandemic.

n.griffen@theday.com