Tiffany Hayes’ most impactful season yet has also been one in which she has spent less time on the court than ever before.
That’s okay with Hayes. When she returned to the Valkyries for a second season, she and the team understood what she needed to do to stay healthy and available. The result has been one of the most joyful seasons of her career.
“I love my role,” Hayes said. “We have our units. We know where our strengths are. Whether coming off the bench or starting, as long as you go out there and you do your people you’re out there with, that’s all that matters.”
Hayes is averaging a career-low 16 minutes and 7.7 points per game, but head coach Natalie Nakase is relying on her veteran presence more than ever.
At 36, Hayes played just 26 games in her first season with the Valkyries because of injuries. This season, she missed two games in May after straining her wrist in the opener at Seattle. She has remained healthy since, becoming a key piece of one of the league’s strongest second units.
“She’s our vet,” said Valkyries forward Cecilia Zandalasini. “She’s one of our most experienced players, and we do rely on her. She’s been playing incredible, and coming off of her retirement two years ago and just coming back being in this incredible shape and you know just leading us. She’s been amazing, honestly.”
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On July 28, Hayes published a story in the Players’ Tribune about her love for her time in the Bay Area. She wrote that one of the reasons she joined the Valkyries was the opportunity to reunite with Nakase, who also coached her in Las Vegas.
“She said partly why she wanted to come here and obviously we talked about taking a leap of faith together, but that she loved me, and I, you know, I don’t take those words for granted because I’ve kind of been open about how I haven’t heard that a lot growing up in my culture and in my family,” Nakase said ahead of Golden State’s game in Dallas on Friday. “To hear that from a player, and to be able to read that, I was brought to tears emotionally because obviously I love Tip too.”
Hayes returned to the Valkyries on a one-year, $600,000 deal just before training camp. Before she came back, she and the team worked out a role designed to keep her available when the team would need her most.
“Because she wasn’t available in the playoffs, we (are) being super mindful because she’s such an important piece, not just off the court because of her veteran leadership, but on the court, the way she’s composed, the way she fights, like when we talk about emptying the tank, Tip empties the tank,” Nakase said. “She gets frustrated over little details. That means that she’s always fighting.
“Some people would say like I could play more, I could play more, but understanding the longevity of this season was something that we really had intentional planning with.”
The plan has allowed Hayes to remain healthy while still making her mark on the season. She now ranks 28th in WNBA scoring all-time and has reached milestones throughout the year despite her reduced role.
But her biggest contribution may not show up in the box score, though her rim-rushing and spacing as a three-level scorer certainly has an impact.
Her leadership has become a defining part of the Valkyries’ second season.
“She’s a great human, and what I love about her is she’s the same person every day,” said Gabby Williams. “Every day, she comes with the same attitude. She treats everybody the same. She just brings so much joy to all of us. Her wisdom and experience has helped me grow a lot in this role, and I’ve leaned on her quite a bit. So I’m really happy that she’s here.”
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The Valkyries’ biggest strength is their depth, and Hayes is a major part of it. Her role is smaller than it has ever been, but that has not diminished her importance.
“I think we were really just honed into like who we are, what our role is, and where we come in and help out the best,” Hayes said. “That’s been coming off the bench and being a force with that second unit. And of course, I’m going to do that for this team.”
