The Golden State Valkyries have signed their first star — and she’s a great fit

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 newest expansion team, joining her former Aces teammate Kate Martin and former assistant coach Natalie Nakase, who will serve as the head coach of the Valkyries.

She’s not a star in the traditional sense — her only All-Star appearance came in 2017 — but right away, she is poised to become the Valkyries’ go-to scorer. In Hayes’ 12-year WNBA career, she’s averaged 13.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. Last season, she came out of retirement to bolster the Las Vegas Aces, averaging 9.5 points per game on a career-best efficiency (shooting 50% from the field and 40.2% from three).

Hayes spent most of her career (2012-22) with the Atlanta Dream and played a year on the Connecticut Sun before initially retiring from the WNBA. But, she rejoined the league ahead of the season and became an integral member of an Aces team looking to three-peat.

“If you watch our games, she’s just unbelievable, the way that she comes in and changes the game,” Aces teammate Kelsey Plum told SB Nation in September. “Obviously she can score, but she defends, she changes the pace of the game, she can rebound. She just figured out how to make our team better.”

On the Valkyries, Hayes will become the only player who has previously averaged in the double-figures.

• Veronica Burton (career averages of 3.1 points, 1.9 assists)
• Carla Leite (no WNBA experience)
• Stephanie Talbot (career averages of 3.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists)
• Temi Fagbenle (career averages of 6.4 points, 4.7 rebounds)
• Monique Billings (career averages of 7.4 points, 5.8 rebounds)
• Julie Vanloo (career averages of 7.4 points, 4.3 assists)
• Kyara Linskens (no WNBA experience)
• Janelle Salaun (no WNBA experience)
• Chloe Bibby (no WNBA experience)
• Kayla Thornton (career averages of 5.5 points, 2.6 rebounds)
• Kate Martin (career averages of 2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds)

Another fun wrinkle — Hayes and Martin are currently teammates in Unrivaled, the new 3-on-3 professional basketball league currently taking place in Miami. The two will continue to play together next season. At Unrivaled, Hayes has been the league’s 7th leading scorer, averaging 18.5 points per game.

The Las Vegas Aces lose another key player to free agency

Hayes becomes the latest Aces player to depart last year’s team — and in a way, the move is a surprise considering her expressed contentment with Las Vegas.

In an interview with SB Nation in September, she praised the franchise for offering amenities and a practice facility that she didn’t have earlier in her career.

“They make it easy for you to come in and have to just only worry about basketball,” she said, noting it was one of the most fun seasons she’s had in the WNBA.

Luckily for her, a state-of-the-art facility is something that the Valkyries will offer as well.

But, for Las Vegas, Hayes’ departure creates another hole. Kelsey Plum, who spent her entire career with the Aces since being drafted in 2017 was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks. Locker room favorite Sydney Colson signed with the Indiana Fever. And, Kate Martin joins the Valkyries after being selected in their expansion draft.

The coaching staff is largely shaken up, too. Former assistant coach Tyler Marsh will serve as the head coach of the Chicago Sky, while assistant coach Natalie Nakase will lead the Valkyries.

Still, a core headlined by three-time MVP A’ja Wilson and U.S. Olympians Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, and Jewell Loyd will be undoubtedly competitive. But, the Aces lack the depth that other contenders have — and will likely continue to seek a bench scorer, and additional frontcourt depth.

Tiffany Hayes is a great fit for the Valkyries

In Golden State, Tiffany Hayes will have the opportunity to have more shot attempts and be one of the more focal points for a WNBA offense — a fit that will likely be mutually beneficial.

Natalie Nakase made clear she wanted “ultra-competitive” players, and that governed expansion draft decisions. Hayes will fit like a glove.

“[She brings] energy, a dog-like mentality, just the motor of a person who wants to get better,” A’ja Wilson told SB Nation in September. “We definitely needed that spark coming off of our bench… those are things you can’t teach.”

Now, that energy will benefit the WNBA’s newest team.