‘Pretty cool’: Aces guard who came out of retirement takes WNBA award
Surrounded by reporters after a shootaround Friday, Aces coach Becky Hammon interrupted an answer she was giving about lineup adjustments to say something she’s said a million times this season:
“I don’t know where we are without Tip Hayes this year.”
Hammon’s compliment was offered in response to a staffer yelling from center court that Aces guard Tiffany Hayes had just been named the WNBA’s Sixth Player of the Year.
Always ready. Always delivering.
Tiffany Hayes is your #KiaSixth Player of the Year 🏆 From retirement to resigning, she came back in a BIG way, contributing for the Aces 🔥
9.5 PPG | 2.8 RPG | 2.1 APG#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/zgGpDBQ2ss
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 4, 2024
Hayes received 38 of 67 votes from a panel of media members for the award. Liberty rookie Leonie Fiebich finished second with 21.
Hayes, a 12-year WNBA veteran, concluded her brief retirement to sign with the Aces at the end of May. The 35-year-old played in 33 of the Aces’ 40 regular-season games, averaging 9.5 points on 40.2 percent 3-point shooting, along with 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists
She came off the bench a career-high 28 times, and she’s “grateful” for the recognition.
“Me coming here, my only thing was that I wanted to help this team. They were the two-time back-to-back defending champs,” Hayes said after coming back out of the tunnel to answer questions. “I just wanted to come here, help, have fun, play basketball and not worry about anything else. I’ve been doing that all season. And to end up getting an award for it, I think that’s a pretty cool thing.”
Washington Mystics guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey were the next two in the voting, though Mabrey doesn’t fit the criteria that a player is required to come off the bench in more games than she starts.
Hayes was already made aware of the accolade while at the Aces’ training facility in Henderson on Thursday, a moment the Aces recorded and shared to social media after the news broke Friday.
“I love y’all. I’m really glad that I came here. I’ve been having the best time of my life." 🥹 — @tiphayes3 pic.twitter.com/sdnp88FbIg
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 4, 2024
The Sixth Player of the Year award has now gone to an Aces player five times in the past six seasons. Alysha Clark claimed the honor in 2023, Kelsey Plum won in 2021, and Dearica Hamby earned the award in 2019 and 2020.
Hayes won The Associated Press Sixth Player of the Year award Sept. 22.
Contact Callie Fin at clawsonfreeman@reviewjournal.com. Follow @CallieJLaw on X.
