The Golden State Valkyries have signed their first star — and he or she’s a fantastic match

Tiffany Hayes is headed to the Golden State Valkyries, ESPN’s Alexa Phillippou reported on Thursday morning. Hayes, a 35-year-old veteran guard and prolific scorer, will headline the WNBA’s latest growth crew, becoming a member of her former Aces teammate Kate Martin and former assistant coach Natalie Nakase, who will function the pinnacle coach of the Valkyries.

She’s not a star within the conventional sense — her solely All-Star look got here in 2017 — however straight away, she is poised to grow to be the Valkyries’ go-to scorer. In Hayes’ 12-year WNBA profession, she’s averaged 13.2 factors, 3.2 rebounds, and a pair of.4 assists per recreation. Final season, she got here out of retirement to bolster the Las Vegas Aces, averaging 9.5 factors per recreation on a career-best effectivity (taking pictures 50% from the sector and 40.2% from three).

Hayes spent most of her profession (2012-22) with the Atlanta Dream and performed a 12 months on the Connecticut Solar earlier than initially retiring from the WNBA. However, she rejoined the league forward of the season and have become an integral member of an Aces crew trying to three-peat.

“When you watch our video games, she’s simply unbelievable, the way in which that she is available in and modifications the sport,” Aces teammate Kelsey Plum informed SB Nation in September. “Clearly she will rating, however she defends, she modifies the tempo of the sport, she will rebound. She simply discovered the right way to make our crew higher.”

On the Valkyries, Hayes will grow to be the one participant who has beforehand averaged within the double-figures.

• Veronica Burton (profession averages of three.1 factors, 1.9 assists)
• Carla Leite (no WNBA expertise)
• Stephanie Talbot (profession averages of three.5 factors, 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists)
• Temi Fagbenle (profession averages of 6.4 factors, 4.7 rebounds)
• Monique Billings (profession averages of seven.4 factors, 5.8 rebounds)
• Julie Vanloo (profession averages of seven.4 factors, 4.3 assists)
• Kyara Linskens (no WNBA expertise)
• Janelle Salaun (no WNBA expertise)
• Chloe Bibby (no WNBA expertise)
• Kayla Thornton (profession averages of 5.5 factors, 2.6 rebounds)
• Kate Martin (profession averages of two.6 factors, 1.6 rebounds)

One other enjoyable wrinkle — Hayes and Martin are at present teammates in Unequalled, the brand new 3-on-3 skilled basketball league at present going down in Miami. The 2 will proceed to play collectively subsequent season. At Unequalled, Hayes has been the league’s seventh main scorer, averaging 18.5 factors per recreation.

The Las Vegas Aces lose one other key participant to free company

Hayes turns into the most recent Aces participant to depart final 12 months’s crew — and in a approach, the transfer is a shock contemplating her expressed contentment with Las Vegas.

In an interview with SB Nation in September, she praised the franchise for providing facilities and a apply facility that she didn’t have earlier in her profession.

“They make it simple so that you can are available in and have to only solely fear about basketball,” she mentioned, noting it was some of the enjoyable seasons she’s had within the WNBA.

Fortunately for her, a state-of-the-art facility is one thing that the Valkyries will provide as properly.

However, for Las Vegas, Hayes’ departure creates one other gap. Kelsey Plum, who spent her complete profession with the Aces since being drafted in 2017 was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks. Locker room favourite Sydney Colson signed with the Indiana Fever. And, Kate Martin joins the Valkyries after being chosen of their growth draft.

The teaching workers is essentially shaken up, too. Former assistant coach Tyler Marsh will function the pinnacle coach of the Chicago Sky, whereas assistant coach Natalie Nakase will lead the Valkyries.

Nonetheless, a core headlined by three-time MVP A’ja Wilson and U.S. Olympians Jackie Younger, Chelsea Grey, and Jewell Loyd will probably be undoubtedly aggressive. However, the Aces lack the depth that different contenders have — and can probably proceed to hunt a bench scorer, and extra frontcourt depth.

Tiffany Hayes is a good match for the Valkyries

In Golden State, Tiffany Hayes may have the chance to have extra shot makes an attempt and be one of many extra focal factors for a WNBA offense — a match that can probably be mutually useful.

Natalie Nakase made clear she needed “ultra-competitive” gamers, and that ruled growth draft choices. Hayes will match like a glove.

“[She brings] vitality, a dog-like mentality, simply the motor of an individual who needs to get higher,” A’ja Wilson informed SB Nation in September. “We positively wanted that spark coming off of our bench… these are issues you possibly can’t educate.”

Now, that vitality will profit the WNBA’s latest crew.