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<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-203888" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/Thumbnail-97.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/Thumbnail-97.png 2000w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/Thumbnail-97-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/09/Thumbnail-97-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />
Golden State Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin was asked back in December of 2024, right after the WNBA’s first expansion draft since 2008, what the first word that came to mind was when thinking about the team she had just assembled through the process.
“Competitve.”
After picking Kate Martin, Kayla Thornton, Temi Fagbenle, and others through the process, Nyanin was clearly confident that she, alongside new head coach Natalie Nakase, had just assembled a team of players willing to defend for all 40 minutes, and willing to represent the energy of Golden State as a basketball city.
She’d end up being very right about that. 
Golden State, the first expansion team to play since the Atlanta Dream did so 17 years ago, went from <a href="https://www.wnba.com/news/2025-wnba-power-rankings-tip-off-week-edition">being considered one of the worst teams on paper </a>headed into the 2025 season to the 8 seed, set to face off with the Minnesota Lynx in the First Round of the WNBA Playoffs. They’re <a href="https://valkyries.wnba.com/news/valkyries-preview-franchises-historic-playoff-debut-embrace-underdog-mentality-20250912">the first expansion team</a> to make the postseason in their inaugural season in WNBA history. 
It’s a huge accomplishment for a squad assembled out of a pool of players other teams didn’t deem crucial enough to protect from the expansion draft, and from the remaining players on the free agency market. 
Golden State managed this by focusing on two things throughout the year, as hammered home by Nakase at the helm: defense, and chemistry. The first year head coach told reporters after the expansion draft that those were the two things she was most looking for with this brand new roster, and something that she wanted to establish as a cornerstone of the Valkyries’ culture for the year. 
“I think, like I&#8217;ve kind of just been mentioning about the characteristics, when you have players that compete every night at a high level, and like I said, if you just watch these players, all 11 players, they compete. They compete like their life depends on it. I think I have a lot of confidence with that, because to me that means that they have a great work ethic. If they&#8217;re playing that hard, that means that they have at least had to have practiced that hard,” said Nakase of what she expected from the initial roster handed to her in that draft. 
Competing is what Golden State did in 2025. They managed to topple contending teams like the New York Liberty (twice), the Las Vegas Aces, the Seattle Storm (twice), and the Atlanta Dream, and they were a top-3 defensive team with a defensive rating of 99.8 &#8211; just behind the Dream and Minnesota Lynx. The Lynx, of course, are the only above .500 team they struggled to defeat in 2025, and that’s their First Round matchup.
On the year, they averaged 77.7 points per game, shooting just 40.7 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from three point range. Most of their points came in the paint, shooting 42.4 percent from that zone &#8211; good for third best in the league, and just behind the Indiana Fever and Aces. Scoring was, in short, not their strong suit. Stopping the other team from scoring was, though. Notably, they only allowed other teams to shoot 34.4 percent from the midrange against them this season, and 31.7 percent on above the break three pointers. 
Minnesota was the best above the break three point shooting team in the WNBA this year, shooting 36.9 percent on those attempts. From the midrange, they were even deadlier, shooting a second-best 40.7 from there thanks to contributions from Courtney Williams and Napheesa Collier.  Regardless of this matchup being lopsided on paper, there’s confidence oozing from a team like the Valkyries that cannot be ignored. A lot of that has to do with their chemistry and “togetherness,” something Nakase was seeking out this offseason when assembling this team with Omehaa. Their support for one another has rubbed off on their fanbase, with the Valkyries <a href="https://valkyries.wnba.com/news/valkyries-set-all-time-wnba-attendance-record-20250906">selling out every single home game they had in 2025</a>. It’s just another notch for the franchise that set out to simply win as many games as possible, and instead, broke multiple records along the way.
This postseason presents a very narrow and tough road ahead for the Valkyries. They’re still without All-Star forward Kayla Thornton for the year, Tiffany Hayes has been ruled out for Game 1 against Minnesota on the road, and they’re only now getting back a key player in Cecilia Zandalasini prior to the series. They also finished the year on a three game losing streak, with two of those losses coming against the Lynx. 
Underdog isn’t necessarily the term to describe Golden State in this series, but they’re going to need to make it a rock fight in order to get anything going against an All-Star cast featuring Collier, Kayla McBride, Alanna Smith, and others. 
Still, this is not a team to completely write off &#8211; they’ve shown that multiple times throughout their inaugural season. Minnesota has to hope they can firmly revoke Golden State’s confidence in Game 1. 
“Look, the ultimate goal here for the Golden State Valkyries and from my owner, straight from his mouth, is we would like to win a championship in five years. He said maybe even sooner. With that in mind, you have to have competitive players in order to win a championship,” said Nakase of that initial 11 player pool assembled through the draft.
2025 may not be the championship year for them, but the goal of one within the next five years, as laid out by Joe Lacob, doesn’t seem so far-fetched anymore.

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How the Golden State Valkyries Made History in Their First Year

With less than two weeks remaining in the regular season, every game takes on added importance when it comes to reaching the postseason and securing playoff position.
We continue our series of players to watch with another mix of superstars and x-factors that will help determine their team’s fate.
Stats, rankings and standings through games played on Aug. 28, 2025
&nbsp;
<h2>1. Minnesota: Alanna Smith &amp; DiJonai Carrington</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-202614" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2230504475.jpg" alt="Alanna Smith #8 of the Minnesota Lynx looks on during the game against the New York Liberty" width="960" height="640" />
Despite Thursday’s loss to Seattle, the Lynx remain on track to lock up the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs. Napheesa Collier’s return from an ankle injury is huge, as is the play of fellow All-Stars Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams (who we highlighted last week). Two more key players on this deep squad are starting center Alanna Smith and newcomer DiJonai Carrington off the bench. Both were All-Defensive Team selections last season (Smith alongside Collier in Minny, while Carrington was in Connecticut) and have helped the Lynx to a league’s best 97.7 defensive rating. Smith joins Las Vegas’ A’ja Wilson as the only players averaging 2+ blocks and 1+ steals this season.
<h2>2. Las Vegas: A’ja Wilson</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-202612" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2232442140.jpg" alt="A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces reacts after their 81-75 win over the Atlanta Dream" width="960" height="647" />
The reigning MVP is making a run for her fourth such honor with a post All-Star tear that has coincided with Vegas’ 12-game win streak to race up the standings. Wilson and the Aces are off until next Thursday when they host the Lynx in a clash of the top two teams in the standings and the top two scorers in the league. Wilson is averaging 26.8 points with six 30+ point games during Las Vegas’ win streak, boosting her season average to 23.4 ppg, just 0.2 ppg  behind Collier in the race for the scoring title. Wilson also ranks second in rebounding (10.1), first in blocks (2.2) and eighth in steals (1.6). 
<h2>3. Atlanta: Allisha Gray</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-202615" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2230332656.jpg" alt="Allisha Gray #15 of the Atlanta Dream shoots a free throw during the game against the Las Vegas Aces" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2230332656.jpg 5763w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2230332656-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2230332656-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
No player in the WNBA has played more total minutes this season than Gray’s 1,337. The ironwoman has appeared in all 38 of Atlanta’s games (after playing all 40 last season). Only two players have splashed more 3-pointers than Gray’s 92 as the 3-time All-Star is averaging a career-best 2.4 triples per game on 38.8% shooting – her highest mark in three seasons with the Dream and second-highest in her nine-year career. She’s on pace to set career-best marks in points (18.7), rebounds (5.4) and assists (3.6) and has Atlanta in contention for a top-four playoff berth.
<h2></h2>
<h2>4. Phoenix: Kahleah Copper &amp; Satou Sabally</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-202616" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2220323852.jpg" alt="Satou Sabally #0 of the Phoenix Mercury goes around a screen by Kahleah Copper #2" width="960" height="678" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2220323852.jpg 4013w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2220323852-300x212.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2220323852-1024x723.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2220323852-1536x1085.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Copper played only five games in June after missing the first month of the season with a knee injury. She played only five games in July due to a rib injury. In August, she has played 12 games, averaging 16.7 ppg, including Thursday’s 28-point performance against Chicago. As for Sabally, who is averaging a team-high 16.7 ppg – keep an eye on her points column. When she scores over 15 points, the Mercury are 11-4 this season, compared to 9-9 when she scores 15 or less.
<h2>5. New York: Breanna Stewart</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-202617" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2231845933.jpg" alt="Breanna Stewart #30 of the New York Liberty handles the ball during the game against the Washington Mystics" width="960" height="640" />
After missing a month with a bone bruise in her right knee that cost her 13 games, Stewart returned to the court this past week. With a minutes restriction keeping her under 25 minutes in her first two games back, Stewart still averaged 15.5 points and seven rebounds in a pair of New York wins. How will her knee respond to an increase in minutes and an increase in pressure once the Liberty begin their title defense in the postseason? With key members of the roster out – Sabrina Ionescu (toe), Jonquel Jones (illness), Natasha Cloud (nose) and Nyara Sabally – can Stewart and the rest of the Liberty maintain their playoff position over these closing weeks?
<h2>6. Indiana: Aliyah Boston &amp; Odyssey Sims</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-202618" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2230296917.jpg" alt="Aliyah Boston #7 and Odyssey Sims #1 of the Indiana Fever celebrate a basket" width="960" height="663" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2230296917.jpg 8100w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2230296917-1024x707.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
In Tuesday’s win, the Fever got 20+ point games from Boston, Sims and Kelsey Mitchell (who we discussed last week) as Indy avoided a three-game skid. Boston has been a constant for the Fever – a top 20 scorer, a top 10 rebounder and shot blocker – while racking up the 4th most double-doubles in the league (15). Sims, on the other hand, has had to strike fast. Working on her third 7-day contract with a Fever team ravaged by guard injuries, Sims has averaged 9.8 points, 4.2 assists and 38.5% 3-point shooting over six games, with a top-20 assist/turnover ratio (2.48), giving the Fever a veteran presence in the backcourt.
<h2>7. Seattle: Gabby Williams</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-202613" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2231165234.jpg" alt="Gabby Williams #5 of the Seattle Storm poses for a photo during the game against the Washington Mystics" width="960" height="640" />
In Thursday’s comeback win over the Lynx, Williams put up 16 points, four rebounds, three assists, two blocks, one steal and four 3-pointers in 30 minutes. It was the type of stuff-the-box-score performance that earned Williams the nickname “French Army Knife” from her head coach Noelle Quinn. The All-Star’s versatility can be seen in her season averages – 12.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.3 apg and 2.3 spg – marks that have only been hit by two other players in WNBA history: Tamika Catchings in 2007 and Angel McCoughtry in 2013. And neither of them averaged Williams’ 1.2 3-pointers per game.
<h2>8. Golden State: Tiffany Hayes &amp; Iliana Rupert</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-202619" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2230839283.jpg" alt="Tiffany Hayes #15 of the Golden State Valkyries looks on against the Atlanta Dream" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2230839283.jpg 6000w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2230839283-1024x682.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Already wearing a mask to protect a broken nose, Hayes went down with a knee injury during a collision with Phoenix’s Kahleah Copper last week. She’s listed as day-to-day with seven games to play. Her return will be critical as Golden State finds itself in a four-team battle for the final three spots in the playoff picture. With the Valkyries potentially making history as the first WNBA expansion franchise to reach the playoffs, getting Hayes back on court, and continued production and shooting from Rupert will be key. Rupert – a 6-foot-4 center from France, is the WNBA leader in 3-point percentage (31-of-67, 46.3%), giving Golden State a proven stretch five.
<h2>9. Los Angeles: Dearica Hamby &amp; Azurá Stevens</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-202620" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2215292233.jpg" alt="Azura Stevens #23, Head Coach Lynne Roberts , and Dearica Hamby #5 of the Los Angeles Sparks " width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2215292233.jpg 4946w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2215292233-1024x683.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
When looking at this year’s season leaders across seven key categories – averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, as well as field goal percentage and 3-point percentage – only seven players appear in the top 10 in at least three categories:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">5 Categories: Napheesa Collier</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">4 Categories: A&#8217;ja Wilson, Alyssa Thomas, Dearica Hamby</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">3 Categories: Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Azurá Stevens</li>
</ul>
Two of those seven players – and the only teammates on this list – are Hamby (18,1 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 57.5 FG%) and Stevens (7.8 RPG, 1.1 BPG, 41.0 3P%) – who have both used their diverse talents to keep the Sparks in the hunt for a playoff berth.
&nbsp;
<h2>10. Washington: Shakira Austin</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-202621" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2231845741.jpg" alt="Shakira Austin #0 of the Washington Mystics looks on during the game against the New York Liberty" width="960" height="639" />
On Sunday, Austin put up a career-best 30 points (10-15 FG, 10-10 FT) with five boards and four blocks, but her effort was thwarted by Nneka Ogwumike&#8217;s game-winning buzzer-beater for Seattle. In her fourth season after being selected 3rd overall in 2022, Austin&#8217;s scoring has risen each year, up to this season&#8217;s 12.9 ppg to go with 6.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks. Can Austin help Washington snap its five-game losing streak and avoid playoff elimination this weekend when the Mystics visit Golden State and Los Angeles?
<h2>11. Connecticut: Tina Charles &amp; Marina Mabrey</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-202622" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2231542513.jpg" alt="Tina Charles #31 and Marina Mabrey #3 of the Connecticut Sun play against the Washington Mystics" width="960" height="640" />
Last week, we highlighted a pair of promising rookies for the Sun. This week, it’s time to show some love to the vets. Tina Charles enters the weekend needing 19 field goals to pass Diana Taurasi (3,341) for the most in WNBA history. Averaging 5.9 buckets per game, Charles is on pace to break the record in four games. Meanwhile, Mabrey has been key to Connecticut’s late season resurgence. The Sun are 7-9 since she returned from injury on July 24 after going 3-19 prior.
<h2>12. Chicago: Kamilla Cardoso</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-202623" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2231393934.jpg" alt="Kamilla Cardoso #10 of the Chicago Sky looks on against the New York Liberty" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2231393934.jpg 4794w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2231393934-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2231393934-1024x683.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
After discussing Angel Reese last week, it’s time to add Cardoso to the watch list. I’m particularly intrigued by watching more of Cardoso and Reese sharing the court and playing off one another. So far this season, Cardoso has assisted Reese 18 times, while Reese has returned the favor 23 times. While Chicago has been eliminated from the playoffs, the development of this front line tandem is key to the Sky’s future success.
<h2>13. Dallas: Maddy Siegrist</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-202624" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2232075735.jpg" alt="Maddy Siegrist #20 of the Dallas Wings shoots the ball against the Golden State Valkyries " width="960" height="623" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2232075735.jpg 7297w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/GettyImages-2232075735-768x498.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
With eight players listed on the injury report ahead of Friday&#8217;s game in Atlanta, Siegrist will have the opportunity to build on her already career-best numbers &#8212; 12.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 0.6 steals, 0.6 blocks &#8212; when the Wings face the Dream. Siegrist, the third overall pick in the 2023 Draft, is averaging 15.3 points on 56.2% shooting over 10 games in August. Can she close out the month strong as the season winds down?

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Players To Watch Over The Season’s Final Two Weeks

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Top Plays of the Day, 8/22/25

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Top Plays of the Day, 08/22/2025

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Game Recap: Valkyries vs. Sky (8/15/25)

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Game Recap: Valkyries vs. Mystics (8/13/25)

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Game Recap: Sun vs. Valkyries (8/11/25)

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Game Recap: Aces vs. Valkyries (8/6/25)

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Top Plays of the Day, 8/6/2025

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Game Recap: Valkyries vs. Sky (8/1/25)

Latest

Tiffany Hayes

<div class="ewa-rteLine">
CAREER TRANSACTIONS:
<ul>
<li>Selected No.14 overall in the 2012 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream.</li>
<li>Rights traded to the Connecticut Sun on February 9, 2023. Hayes signed one-year contract with the Sun on February 15, 2023.</li>
</ul>
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
<ul>
<li>All-WNBA First Team (2018)</li>
<li>WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2018)</li>
<li>Breakout campaign in 2018 saw her finish sixth in MVP balloting and fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting when she was a three-time pick as Eastern Conference Player of the Week</li>
<li>Eastern Conference Player of the Month (May 2017)</li>
<li>WNBA All-Rookie Team (2012)</li>
</ul>
2023 SEASON WITH CONNECTICUT:
<ul>
<li>Appeared and started in all 40 games for the Sun in 2023.</li>
<li>Averaged 12.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 0.9 steals per game.</li>
<li>Reached 4,000 career points on 6/27 against New York.</li>
<li>Reached 1,000 career rebounds on 7/30 against Minnesota.</li>
<li>Became seventh fastest player to achieve at least 4,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 750 assists, 300 steals and 350 three-point field goals in WNBA history- 307 games (1/15 to accomplish in league history).</li>
<li>Finished in double-figures 28 times, including 14 straight games from 8/4-9/8.</li>
<li>Recorded four 20+ point games and nine 15+ point games.</li>
<li>Tallied a season-high 28 points against Dallas on 7/25, going a perfect 10-10 from the free-throw line.</li>
<li>Tied her career-high with eight assists against Washington on 5/23.</li>
</ul>
2022 HIGHLIGHTS WITH ATLANTA:
<ul>
<li>Started in all 11 games played.</li>
<li>Averaged 16.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.</li>
<li>Played her first game of the season at New York (6/23) after missing the beginning of the season because of overseas obligations and a right knee injury.
<ul>
<li>Scored a team-high 21 points in her first game back to help the Dream defeat the Liberty.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Lifted the Dream to a win over the eventual WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces (7/19) with a season-high 31 points.</li>
<li>Recorded a season-high 8 rebounds at Chicago (7/12).</li>
<li>Scored in double-digits in 10 straight games until an injury 11 minutes into her last game of the season against Dallas (7/30).</li>
</ul>
2021 HIGHLIGHTS WITH ATLANTA: 
<ul>
<li>Started in 19 of 21 games played.</li>
<li>Career-best season saw her average 14.7 points, 1.6 steals and 3.0 assists per game.</li>
<li>Her 1.6 steals per game led the team and ranked 6th among all players in the league this season.</li>
<li>Only player in the WNBA in 2021 to average at least 14 points per game (14.67), 1.5 steals per game (1.57) and 3 assists per game (3.0).</li>
<li>Hayes shot 40.5% from the three-point line in 2021, making her one of five players in the league in 2021 to shoot at least 40% from beyond the arc while averaging at least 4 attempted three-pointers per game.</li>
<li>One of only seven players in the league with at least 31 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists in a game in 2021, joined by her teammate Courtney Williams (recorded 31/6/3 against Indiana on 9/14).</li>
<li>She became the first Dream player since Renee Montgomery in 2018 to record 5+ steals in a game, recording five at Washington (6/17).
<ul>
<li>She was one of only two Dream players in 2021 to record five or more steals in a game (Cheyenne Parker).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>One of four Dream players in 2021 with 4+ steals in multiple games (Bradford, McDonald, Sims), recording two (5 at Washington on 6/17 and 4 at Washington again on 9/10).</li>
<li>Her season-high 31 points against Indiana (9/14) brought her to three career 30-point games; her eight 20+ point games in 2021 brought her to 53 career 20-point outings.</li>
<li>Returned for her first WNBA game since 2019, picking up 3 steals, 2 assists and 5 points against Chicago (5/19).</li>
<li>Back-to-back 26-point outings at Chicago (5/25) and against Dallas (5/27).</li>
<li>Reached 300 career made three-pointers at Washington (9/10).</li>
<li>Missed nine games in the middle of the season after tearing her right ACL at Washington (6/17).</li>
</ul>
2019 HIGHLIGHTS WITH ATLANTA:
<ul>
<li>Started in all 29 games played.</li>
<li>Reached 3,000 career points with a team-leading and then-season-high 28 points against Indiana (6/19)</li>
<li>Secured her position as the Dream’s all-time leading three-point shooter, making the most three-pointers (273) and attempting the most (857) of any Dream player in franchise history.</li>
<li>Set a new career high record with 34 points at Indiana (8/10) with 12 made field goals.</li>
<li>Took a career-high 23 shots from the field against Chicago (8/20)</li>
<li>Scored in double digits 22 times and led the team in scoring 11 times.</li>
<li>Scored in double figures in her last nine games of the season, leading the team in four of those games.</li>
<li>Posted six 20+ point outings with one 30+ performance, bringing her to 34 games with 20 or more points (second-most in franchise history) and two games with 30 or more points in her career (third-most in franchise history).</li>
<li>Led the team in assists eight times with a season-high six assists at Connecticut (6/21)</li>
<li>Sat out the final three games of the season with a knee injury.</li>
</ul>
2018 HIGHLIGHTS WITH ATLANTA:
<ul>
<li>Started in 34 of 36 games played.</li>
<li>Averaged 28.9 minutes per game and 17.2 points per game.</li>
<li>Averaged a 81.7 free-throw percentage in the regular season</li>
<li>Averaged 6.2 rebounds per game in the playoffs.</li>
<li>Scored a season-high 28 points, went 6-of-11 from behind the arc, and 4-4 from the free-throw line against Minnesota (8/5)</li>
<li>Had a season-high 8 rebounds against Connecticut (7/17)</li>
<li>Went 10-of-10 from the free-throw line against Dallas (5/10)</li>
</ul>
2017 HIGHLIGHTS WITH ATLANTA: 
<ul>
<li>Appeared and started in 33 games.</li>
<li>Led the Dream in scoring with a career-high 16.3 points per game, good for 13th in the WNBA.</li>
<li>Her 166 field goals, 48 three-point baskets and 158 free-throws made were all career-highs.</li>
<li>Finished in double-figure scoring in 30 games during the season.</li>
<li>Scored 25 points against Minnesota on (7/28)</li>
<li>Helped the Dream to a win over San Antonio with 25 points and seven rebounds on (7/18)</li>
<li>Earned first career start and appearance in the WNBA All-Star game.</li>
<li>Named Eastern Conference Player of the Month (May).</li>
</ul>
2016 HIGHLIGHTS WITH ATLANTA:
<ul>
<li>Played and started 33 games for the Dream.</li>
<li>Averaged 15 points and 3.4 rebounds a game.</li>
<li>Scored 30 points and shot 10-of-17 from the field in Atlanta’s second round playoff loss to the Chicago Sky (9/25)</li>
<li>Scored a season-high 32 points vs. Sparks (6/30)</li>
<li>Went an impressive 10-of-10 from the free-throw line resulting and finished with 27 points vs. Liberty (5/24)</li>
</ul>
2015 HIGHLIGHTS WITH ATLANTA: 
<ul>
<li>Played in 28 games and made 27 starts.</li>
<li>22 double-digit scoring games</li>
<li>Career-high 28 points at Indiana with 14-15 shooting from the free throw line (8/28)</li>
<li>Career-high 9 defensive rebounds against Connecticut (8/25)</li>
<li>Career-high 16 field goals attempted (7/31)</li>
<li>Tied (10th) with Brittney Griner for free throws (99)</li>
<li>Averaged 12.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.</li>
<li>Led the Dream in scoring on 5 occasions.</li>
</ul>
2014 HIGHLIGHTS WITH ATLANTA:
<ul>
<li>Played in all 34 games, making 32 starts.</li>
<li>Averaged 12.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.</li>
<li>Ranked 22nd in the WNBA in scoring and fourth among guards in field goal percentage (.463)</li>
<li>Ranked eighth in assist/turnover ratio (2.15)</li>
<li>25 double-digit scoring games, including five with 20+ points.</li>
<li>Led or shared team lead in scoring six times</li>
<li>Tied then-career high with 23 points, plus six boards and six assists vs. Connecticut (7/29)</li>
<li>Career-high 27 points on 9-of-12 shooting at Tulsa (7/31)</li>
</ul>
2013 HIGHLIGHTS WITH ATLANTA:
<ul>
<li>Played in 23 games, including four starts.</li>
<li>Missed seven games due to surgery to repair a torn meniscus in her left knee July 9, and four more games after aggravating the injury.</li>
<li>Team was 15-8 when she played, 2-9 when she didn’t.</li>
<li>Averaged 11.3 points and 3.7 rebounds.</li>
<li>Scored in double figures 12 times, including three games with more than 20 points.</li>
<li>Led team in scoring four times.</li>
</ul>
2012 HIGHLIGHTS WITH ATLANTA:
<ul>
<li>Played in all 34 games, including 17 starts.</li>
<li>Named to the 2012 WNBA All-Rookie Team</li>
<li>Ranked fifth among all rookies in the WNBA in scoring at 8.6 points per game, second in assists (2.1) and 10th in rebounding (3.1)</li>
<li>Averaged 11.9 points in her 17 starts.</li>
<li>Reached double figures in scoring 16 times.</li>
<li>Ranked 24th in the WNBA in free throw percentage at 78.6 percent.</li>
</ul>
WNBA POSTSEASON CAREER:
2023 (Connecticut):
<ul>
<li>Appeared and started in seven postseason contests for Connecticut.</li>
<li>Averaged 14.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.6 steals per game.</li>
<li>Tied her postseason career-high with 30 points in Game 2 of the WNBA Semifinals against New York on 9/26.</li>
</ul>
2018 (Atlanta):
<ul>
<li>Appeared and started in five postseason contests for Atlanta.</li>
<li>Averaged 16.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game.</li>
<li>Led the Dream to victory over the Mystics with 23 points and 11 rebounds in Game 4 of the playoffs.</li>
</ul>
2016 (Atlanta):
<ul>
<li>Appeared in one postseason contest for the Dream dropping a postseason career-high 30 points against Chicago on 9/25.</li>
</ul>
2014 (Atlanta):
<ul>
<li>Appeared and started in three postseason contests for the Dream.</li>
<li>Averaged 12.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.</li>
</ul>
2013 (Atlanta):
<ul>
<li>Appeared in eight postseason contests for the Dream, starting in six.</li>
<li>Averaged 12.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.</li>
</ul>
2012 (Atlanta):
<ul>
<li>Appeared in three postseason contests for the Dream.</li>
<li>Averaged 4.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game.</li>
</ul>
OVERSEAS COMPETITION:
<ul>
<li>2012-13: Hapoel Rishon LeZion, Israel</li>
<li>2013-14: Beşiktaş JK, Turkey and America de Recife, Brazil</li>
<li>2015-16: Yakin Dogu, Turkey</li>
<li>2016-17: Mersin BSB, Turkey</li>
<li>2017-18: Maccabi Ashdod, Israel</li>
<li>2018-19: CCC Polkowice, Poland</li>
<li>2019-20: Perfumerías Avenida Salamanca, Spain</li>
<li>2020-21: Perfumerías Avenida Salamanca, Spain</li>
<li>2021-23: Çukurova Basketbol Kulübü, Turkey</li>
</ul>
COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS:
<ul>
<li>Two-time All-BIG EAST First Team selection.</li>
<li>Helped Connecticut to two national championships and four Final Four appearances.</li>
<li>Finished career with 147-7 record as a Husky.</li>
<li>Tallied 23 20+ point performances, including three 30+ point performances as a senior</li>
<li>Averaged 14.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game as senior.</li>
<li>Most Outstanding Player of the 2012 Kingston Regional</li>
<li>Finalist for the Wooden Award and Wade Trophy</li>
<li>Associated Press Third Team All-American.</li>
</ul>
PERSONAL:
<ul>
<li>Parents are Dorothy and Renard Hayes</li>
<li>Majored in Sociology at Connecticut</li>
<li>Led Winter Haven High School to a combined record of 117-9 during four-year prep career.</li>
<li>Also lettered in softball and cross country in high school.</li>
</ul>
TIFFANY HAYES IN THE NEWS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://andscape.com/features/connecticut-sun-guard-tiffany-hayes-is-grateful-for-her-second-act/">Connecticut Sun guard Tiffany Hayes is grateful for her second act (September 23, 2023)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/article/connecticut-sun-indiana-fever-tiffany-hayes-18355833.php">Tiffany Hayes leads Connecticut Sun over Indiana Fever (September 8, 2023)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/uconn-womens-basketball/article/tiffany-hayes-connecticut-sun-wnba-18139868.php">Former UConn women’s basketball guard Tiffany Hayes adjusting well with CT Sun: ‘Great journey’ (June 7, 2023)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/uconn-womens-basketball/article/tiffany-hayes-connecticut-sun-wnba-18079260.php">Former UConn star Tiffany Hayes excited to join WNBA’s CT Sun (May 5, 2023)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theleadsm.com/hayes-trade-may-keep-sun-ablaze/">Hayes Trade May Keep Sun Ablaze (March 7, 2023)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thenexthoops.com/features/dream-send-tiffany-hayes-to-sun-for-draft-pick/">Dream send Tiffany Hayes to Sun for draft pick (February 9, 2023)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ajc.com/sports/state-sports/tiffany-hayes-scores-31-as-dream-upset-aces-in-las-vegas/QSSTOKSXP5GCDHNHPLPUVNINUM/">Tiffany Hayes scores 31 as Dream upset Aces in Las Vegas (July 19, 2022)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ajc.com/sports/basketball/dream-tiffany-hayes-opts-out-2020-season/H1yb8Q3ShtgZud2aXICzJO/">Dream’s Tiffany Hayes opts out of 2020 season (June 23, 2020)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.si.com/wnba/2018/09/01/ap-bkl-dream-mystics-tiffany-hayes-leads-atlanta">Tiffany Hayes Helps Dream Past Elena Delle Donne-less Mystics (August 31, 2018)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ajc.com/sports/dream-tiffany-hayes-named-wnba-player-the-week/3TBxlTqe1SedCiwBuMgILP/">Dream’s Tiffany Hayes named WNBA Player of the Week (July 23, 2018)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/20363216/tiffany-hayes-steps-atlanta-dream">Tiffany Hayes steps up for Atlanta Dream (August 16, 2017)</a></li>
</ul>
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