Ex-Basketball Star Dies Suddenly At 36

Former Baylor women’s basketball star Melissa Jones, one of only seven players in program history to have her jersey retired, has died, the school confirmed. She was 36.

Baylor announced Jones’ death in an Instagram post Thursday.

“The Baylor Family mourns the loss of 2011 alum Melissa Jones,” the post read. “Her impact on our women’s basketball program will not be forgotten. Please keep the Jones family and the Baylor women’s basketball program in your prayers during this time.”

Jones’ mother told KWTX that Jones died April 3 at her home in Commerce City, Colorado. A cause of death was not immediately known.

The Baylor Family mourns the loss of 2011 alum Melissa Jones.

Her impact on our women’s basketball program will not be forgotten. Please keep the Jones family and the Baylor women’s basketball program in your prayers during this time. pic.twitter.com/eOvNHXO7Qa

— Baylor Women’s Basketball (@BaylorWBB) April 8, 2026

A Colorado native, Jones played for Baylor from 2007-11 and helped elevate the program into a national force. She was part of the Bears’ run to the Final Four in 2010 and helped Baylor win the Big 12 title the next season. Her impact on and off the court made her a fan favorite, and she became the fifth player in Baylor history to have her jersey retired.

Screenshot- USA TODAY Sports

Kim Mulkey, the LSU coach who coached Jones at Baylor, said Jones was more than a former player.

“My heart is broken over the loss of Melissa Jones. She was more than just a player to me — she was family. She left her mark on Baylor, not just basketball, and she was loved by the entire community. I’m grateful I had the chance to coach her and know her. Rest in peace MJ.”

WNBA veteran Brittney Griner, who overlapped with Jones at Baylor from 2009-11, shared Baylor’s post to her Instagram Stories and wrote, “You will be missed MJ!”

Jones’ death sent a wave of grief through the Baylor community and across women’s basketball, where she was remembered as a standout who helped build the foundation for what the program became.

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