Valkyries bring in Hayes as 1st major free agent
The Golden State Valkyries are signing 2024 Sixth Player of the Year Tiffany Hayes.
The Valkyries had been targeting Hayes for a while, but she was protected by the Las Vegas Aces during December's expansion draft, according to ESPN's Kendra Andrews.
The UConn product averaged 9.5 points, 2.1 assists, and 2.8 rebounds while coming off the bench in 28 of her 33 games with the Aces last season.
Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase said she's excited to reconnect with the 35-year-old. Nakase was an Aces assistant last campaign.
"Having coached Tiffany last season in Las Vegas, I know firsthand the impact she brings both on and off the court," Nakase said, per Callie Fin of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Hayes spent 10 seasons with the Atlanta Dream, who drafted her 14th overall in 2012. She played in the All-Star Game in 2017.
Golden State owner Joe Lacob told Andrews that the franchise was struggling to attract free agents despite its "unlimited resources."
The Valkyries are the WNBA's 13th franchise. They selected 11 players in their expansion draft.