Ex-Lv Aces Star Drops Bombshell Insight Into Tiffany Hayes’ Retirement in 2023 After Recent Triumph

Just a year ago, Tiffany Hayes had announced her retirement from the WNBA. However, a few months later, she turned the tables by coming out of retirement and joining the 2x defending champs, the LV Aces, in May 2024. And she didn’t just join the team; she has made a huge impact. After the 35-year-old snagged the Sixth Player of the Year title, former Aces star and Hayes’ friend, Dearica Hamby, revealed a surprising detail about Hayes’ short-lived retirement.

In reply to an ESPN post that displayed how Hayes went from retirement to ultimately winning the Sixth Player of the Year award in the span of a few months, Hamby remarked, “She wasn’t supposed to retire in the first place lol 😂 congrats @tiphayes3.” That raises the question, was she really not supposed to retire? The two of them share a lovely bond off-court. When Hamby was controversially traded while pregnant by the Aces, Hayes supported her throughout.

Previously, after 11 seasons in the league, the 2017 WNBA All-Star officially retired following her final season with the Connecticut Sun. In her first official statement on the Counted Me Out Podcast, Hayes had said, “[as far as the WNBA] this right here with the Connecticut Sun was my last season.” 

Her supposed last year saw her averaging 12.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, even surpassing 4,000 career points. The Sun were eventually eliminated by the New York Liberty in the Semis last season, and Hayes played a crucial role for her team. Considering her performances, there was no doubt that she could continue. And she proved that this season. The LV Aces Aces snatched her up ahead of the season, and she racked up 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists in her first game. The rest is history.

From retirement to earning titles: Tiffany Hayes’ memorable comeback with the LV Aces

Starting from her Aces debut, she continued to shine, averaging 9.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists over the season, with a shooting percentage of 50% and 40.2% from the three-point range. The LV Aces newbie played in 33 games, with 28 of those appearances coming from the bench. 

One of her standout moments came during a game against her former team, the Atlanta Dream, where she scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, contributing significantly to the LV Aces’ 83-72 victory and securing a playoff berth. Tiffany Hayes also showcased her scoring prowess by hitting double figures in 16 games, including a season-high 21 points in a crucial matchup against the Seattle Storm.

Even her teammate and MVP A’ja Wilson praised her impact, saying, ‘She’s really one of our X factors when it comes to just, when we need anything, whether it’s a stop, whether it’s energy, whether it’s a bucket, we turn to Tiff.” Looking back, it’s clear that the 2012 WNBA All-Rookie Team star’s performance hit new heights, especially after the Olympic break. She averaged 10.7 points per game with an impressive shooting percentage of 51.9%.

Her contributions helped the Aces secure a spot in the playoffs, and she won the Sixth Player of the Year award. So, with her exceptional skills and the recognition she’s garnered, it’s safe to say she’s not done yet. There’s already talk about the possibility for her to play overseas again, as she did before. Let’s all root for her and see what her next step is!