OAKLAND – The gym gets lighter, and smiles get wider, whenever Tiffany Hayes steps onto the court for the Golden State Valkyries.
After an offseason abroad, the veteran guard is back with the Valkyries for her 13th season in the WNBA, after resigning with the team on a one-year, protected $600,000 contract. Hayes made her first appearance at the team's training camp on Tuesday, to the delight of her coaches and teammates.
“It's good to have my little baby back,” Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton said with a smile. “She brings a lot to our team. She brings a lot of expertise that we need as a veteran.”
With the CBA in flux and the possibility of retirement on the table, it was not at all certain if Hayes would return to the Bay Area. But ultimately, the mutual joy and love Hayes and the Valkyries had for each other won out.
“Everything here,” Hayes said when asked what factored into her decision to return to the Valkyries. She gestured to the commotion of the team wrapping up practice, including Thornton and Veronica Burton, who stood behind the media scrum, watching Hayes with big smiles on their face.
“Like I said, this program leads with caring about the players first. That was amazing. And also, for me personally, I love the recovery here. They make sure everybody gets taken care of.”
Taking care of the players is important for Hayes, especially at this point in her career. Last season, Hayes battled a nose injury that forced her to wear a mask for the majority of the season, as well as a knee issue that sidelined her for the playoffs.
But despite those injuries, Hayes averaged 11.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 26 games, being one of the veterans Natalie Nakase leaned on.
What Tip Hayes brings to the Golden State Valkyries
“She brings a lot,” Nakase said of Hayes after practice. “Her maturity, just right away, her ability to pick things up, because we tweaked a couple of things, so just her ability to pick things up and not get overwhelmed.
“She brings a lot of composure and just a lot of fun. I mean, she started dancing right away and being goofy and silly, and we need that. You know me, I've always leaned on [how] life is short. Have fun every single day. And so that's what we want to do here.”
Hayes anticipates a similar role to the one she had last season– a veteran presence who also provides a spark on offense. And that role will be just as important as last year, as the Valkyries field a roster of mostly returning players, with All-WNBA wing Gabby Williams being one of the few new additions. The one difference between this season and last season is the expectations.
With Golden State making history as the first expansion franchise to make the postseason, the bar is high for the Valkyries entering their second year. Throw in the fact that Nakase and owner Joe Lacob's goal of winning a championship in the first five season lingering over the team; there is real pressure on this team to be competitive.
But for Hayes, all they have to do is meet their own expectations to reach their goals.
“I think our expectations are always going to be what they are, as far as going hard every day,” Hayes said. “And I think once we give, if we give, that 1 percent more every day, every day, it's going to build up to what we want.”
