Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes faces former Dream in WNBA Finals
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The gist
Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes scored 14 off the bench in a 97-71 Game 3 Finals loss to Atlanta.
Golden State trails 2-1 as the 37-year-old chases a first title.
Background
Tiffany Hayes is a 37-year-old Golden State Valkyries guard in her 14th WNBA season, a two-time NCAA champion at UConn seeking her first championship. Atlanta drafted her in 2012 and she spent a decade there, reaching a 2013 WNBA Finals, before retiring in 2023 and returning in 2024 with the Las Vegas Aces. She now faces that former team in the 2026 Finals, and her status drew attention after she left Game 1 with an apparent injury.
How it unfolded
- 2012Hayes is drafted by the Atlanta Dream in the second round and plays in a WNBA Finals with them in 2013.
- 2023Hayes announces her retirement from the WNBA, saying "It's the end."
- 2024She returns with the Las Vegas Aces and wins Sixth Player of the Year.
- Oct 17, 2026Hayes exits Game 1 of the Finals against Atlanta after a hard fall, faceplanting while diving for a loose ball with about 2:38 left in the fourth quarter.
- Oct 21, 2026Hayes scores 14 points off the bench on 6-of-13 shooting in Golden State's 97-71 Game 3 loss at State Farm Arena; Atlanta leads the series 2-1.
- Oct 24, 2026Statmuse lists Hayes averaging 11.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists over her last 10 games.
Who’s saying what
- Coach
- Golden State coach Natalie Nakase called Hayes "a fighter" whose "type of fight is unmatched" and said she wants to win it for her.
- Player
- Hayes said after Game 3 that the team must stay together, not get flustered, and make adjustments now.
- Opponent
- Atlanta forward Naz Hillmon said Hayes "continues to show why she should be a part of this league" and has been "a huge spark this year."
Still unverified
Hayes left Game 1 with an apparent injury; coach Natalie Nakase said she had no update on Hayes' status and would know after medical evaluation.