Hey there, fellow tennis enthusiasts and Miami sports fans Today, I’m diving into the world of basketball to talk about Tiffany Hayes’ incredible journey and her strong case for WNBA Sixth Player of the Year. As a young tennis player living in Miami, I’m always excited to see talented athletes making waves in different sports.
After coming out of a brief retirement, Tiffany Hayes has averaged more bench points this season than any WNBA player. When she announced her retirement last December, it seemed like her 11-season, year-round career had finally caught up with her. “I really feel like I’m older now,” Hayes said at the time. “I got a lot of stuff that I really always want to get into but I’m so busy ’cause I’m playing year-round. Plus, my body, playing 11 seasons straight with no breaks, every year, two seasons in a year every time — that’s a lot.”
However, in an unexpected twist, Hayes joined the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces just a few months later. There, the former All-Star and All-WNBA player has emerged as one of the brightest spots of an up-and-down season, establishing herself as a leading candidate for Sixth Woman of the Year.
On paper, coming off the bench could have been a major adjustment — after all, prior to this year, Hayes started nearly every game for 9 consecutive WNBA seasons. But it hasn’t felt like much of an adjustment at all. “It’s really not difficult for me,” Hayes told SB Nation. “I’m just not the type that really cares whether I start or come off the bench. I’ve never been that way. It just so happens that I’ve always started. So nobody’s really had to see that side of me and know that I’m really okay with whatever I have to do for the team.”
This mindset is unusual for professional athletes, but it has worked wonders for Hayes. She has averaged 9.2 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals this season while shooting 50.3% from the field—the second-best average of her career.
Her impact has been undeniable to her teammates: “[She brings] energy, a dog-like mentality, just the motor of a person who wants to get better,” A’ja Wilson told SB Nation. “We definitely needed that spark coming off of our bench… those are things you can’t teach.”
Kelsey Plum knows a thing or two about how to make an impact off the bench; she was awarded Sixth Woman of the Year in 2021 with the Aces. And she doesn’t think there’s any question that Hayes deserves the honor this season: “I was in that role, and I think what’s super important is that it’s the person that impacts winning the most. And if you watch our games, she’s just unbelievable, the way that she comes in and changes the game.”
The numbers add up: Hayes has averaged more points off the bench than any WNBA player this season. She provides instant offense when she checks in with her lightning quick first-step.
For Hayes, though, it’s not just about statistics—it’s about being able to be her authentic self in a different way: “Everybody has their own thing,” she said. “People are different here – like you’re just able to just be yourself and do what you do, and it just comes easy.”
Ultimately, what made Hayes fall in love with Las Vegas is the fact that she’s been able to be her authentic self while contributing significantly to her team’s success.
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