The Golden State Valkyries just notched their very first postseason win on Sunday, demolishing the Dallas Wings by 24 points. Talk about a statement! But while the franchise might be new to the playoff stage, veteran Tiffany Hayes, embarking on her eighth trip, is already looking way past the first round. She’s telling everyone this team can win it all.
Tiffany Hayes Is Hungry For a Ring, And She Believes This Is The Team
Tiffany Hayes is a 37-year-old WNBA veteran who has seen it all. She was a budding star for the Atlanta Dream during a Finals run in 2013, an X-factor with the Connecticut Sun in 2023, and the premier bench performer for the Las Vegas Aces in 2024. Those runs all ended short, with both the Sun and Aces falling in the semifinals. So when she tells head coach Natalie Nakase, “‘We can win it this year,’” you know it’s coming from a place of deep intuition and a whole lot of hunger. Nakase herself confirmed that conversation, saying Hayes is absolutely starved for a championship. Hayes feels this Valkyries team is just different. It’s their “camaraderie,” how they’ve “gelled together,” and their “willingness to learn and keep learning throughout the season and not be satisfied with where we’re at.”
Golden State’s Bench Is Their Unstoppable Weapon
Chemistry and good vibes are great, but Hayes points to the Valkyries’ *real* secret weapon: their bench. And guess who leads that charge? Hayes herself, a former Sixth Player of the Year. Golden State’s bench leads the entire league in scoring and offensive rating, making them a nightmare for opponents. Hayes isn’t shy about it, saying, “I think once we come in, we don’t let up.” She added that it’s “kind of hard for other teams to keep up” because “everybody’s coming in and giving their all.” Dallas Wings head coach Jose Fernandez had to concede after that Game 1 drubbing that, “Golden State’s strength is their bench. They’ve got the No. 1 bench in the league.” You saw it in action during Game 1’s second quarter, when the Valkyries exploded for a franchise-high 37 points, pulling away from the Wings. That kind of game-changing quarter simply doesn’t happen without Hayes and the bench mob.
So, get ready, because Game 2 of this first-round series against the Dallas Wings is going down on Wednesday. The Valkyries have tasted victory, and with a veteran like Tiffany Hayes boldly calling their shot, you know they’re not holding anything back!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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