The Golden State Valkyries have signed veteran guard Tiffany Hayes, they said Thursday.
Hayes was an unrestricted free agent, last playing WNBA games for the Las Vegas Aces, where she averaged 9.5 points on 50 percent shooting in 33 games off the bench last season. The Aces protected her during the expansion draft, one league source said, preventing the Valkyries from selecting her. But the Aces and Hayes couldn’t reach a deal.
Hayes, 35, will be joining her third team in three seasons after spending her first 10 years in the league with the Atlanta Dream. She was a WNBA All-Star in 2017. In 2018, she averaged a career-best 17.2 points and was named first-team All-WNBA and second team All-WNBA Defense.
She is currently averaging 18.5 points for the Laces in the Unrivaled league.
“Having coached Tiffany last season in Las Vegas, I know firsthand the impact she brings both on and off the court,” Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase said. “Her versatility, intensity, and ability to score will be invaluable as we build our team’s identity. She’s also an exceptional mentor who understands what it takes to play, and succeed, at the highest level.”
The reigning sixth woman of the year is Golden State’s first free-agent signing with WNBA experience. The Valkyries agreed to terms with French national Janelle Salaün, Belgian big Kyara Linskens and Maryland alum Chloe Bibby earlier this week.
Golden State has also signed deals with three players selected in the expansion draft: Monique Billings, Veronica Burton, and Julie Vanloo. They join Kate Martin, Stephanie Talbot, and Kayla Thornton on the roster for the inaugural season.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Las Vegas Aces, Golden State Valkyries, WNBA
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