Dallas Wings guard JJ Quinerly dribbles the ball during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever on Friday, June 27, 2025, in Dallas.
JJ Wetherholt rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a St. Louis Cardinals spring training baseball game against the Houston Astros on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Jupiter, Fla.
Dallas Wings guard JJ Quinerly dribbles the ball during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever on Friday, June 27, 2025, in Dallas.
JJ Wetherholt rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a St. Louis Cardinals spring training baseball game against the Houston Astros on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Jupiter, Fla.
The pair of West Virginia University alumni who share the distinctive appellation had big days in the middle of the weekend, with JJ Quinerly getting her first WNBA start and earning player of the game honors for the Dallas Wings, while JJ Wetherholt had a home run and two RBIs for the Springfield Cardinals, the Double A affiliate of MLB's St. Louis team.
Quinerly, who had been averaging just 9.5 minutes per game over her most recent four WNBA contests, splashed in her starting debut against the Washington Mystics. She scored 15 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field, including a successful endeavor on her only 3-point attempt, and added four rebounds and four assists in a 79-71 win.
She did have five turnovers, but that was a bit out of character for her still-young WNBA career, in which she had a total of just 11 miscues over 16 games.
On the season, she is averaging 4.1 points per contest while shooting 44.4% from 3-point range and 94.1% from the free throw line, with a 1.3-1 assist to turnover ratio.
On the diamond, Mountaineer alumnus JJ Wetherholt smacked his fifth home run of the season for Springfield, a 414-footer that landed deep in the bullpen to give the Cardinals an early lead.
That continued an excellent start to the 2025 season for Wetherholt, who is slashing .307/.431/.888 for the minor league Cardinals through 56 games this year. He has 13 doubles and a triple to go along with his four-baggers, has shown his usual good eye by working 40 walks, and has 27 RBI and 12 steals in 14 attempts to fill out a stuffed stat box.
While the major league Cardinals may not be in a hurry to promote him, it's not hard to imagine that he will move up the ladder at some point this season, especially if he continues to produce at this rate. Wetherholt is the top prospect in the St. Louis farm system, rated No. 16 overall by MLB.com.
