Tiffany Hayes set the WNBA media circles ablaze when the Las Vegas Aces brought her out of retirement in 2024. Only 5 months before that, the 12th-year veteran cited being “older” and desiring to pursue other interests as the source of her retirement. But when Aces head coach Becky Hammon came knocking on her door, Hayes’ worldview changed. Suddenly, the ex-UConn star envisioned a new chapter in her life; one that would bring her a maiden WNBA championship ring. But why did Hammon go for a retired player in the first place?

In her 11-year career, Tiffany Hayes impressed many. In her only season with the Connecticut Sun, she became the 7th-fastest player (307 games) to achieve at least 4,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 750 assists, 300 steals, and 350 three-point field goals in WNBA history – only 1 of 15 players to do so. Sun coach Stephanie White labeled Hayes the “ultimate competitor and professional.” While this superior reputation was why Hammon chose her, it wasn’t the fundamental reasoning.

Aces “Point Gawd” Chelsea Gray, as Candace Parker nicknamed her, was sidelined for the first 12 games of 2024 after she suffered a foot injury in the 2023 WNBA finals. With no exact return in sight for her, Becky Hammon had to look elsewhere for answers, and Tiffany Hayes was it. “We’re really excited about her (Hayes),” Hammon said in May. “Being that we don’t know the exact date for Chelsea, we felt like we needed to add another guard that had some experience,” she added.

With the Aces eyeing a 3-peat this year, Hayes is already contributing better than in 2023. Moreover, the 2x NCAA champion’s 50% FG rate in the regular season has made her a vital force for them in the playoffs.

A’ja Wilson declares Tiffany Hayes as the Las Vegas Aces’ “X-factor”

In Game 1 of the first-round matchup against the Seattle Storm, the Aces struggled in the first quarter. The Storm took a 9-point lead and sustained it to end the first half with a 4-point lead (42-38). Shockingly, in the first half, 3x MVP A’ja Wilson only scored 4 points and Kelsey Plum floundered as well, going scoreless.

But it was Tiffany Hayes who stepped up. Coming off the bench, her 12 years of experience was on full display as she scored 12 points of the Aces’ 28 in the second quarter. She finished with 20 points, shooting 8-of-12, and an impressive 5 steals. A’ja Wilson was super-appreciative of her veteran teammate. “She gets us going, her energy is there always,” Wilson said via ESPN. “That’s our game changer. She’s really one of our X-factors.”

Hayes has been impressive all across the board in her comeback season, averaging 9.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. She is also the leading candidate for the WNBA Sixth Player of the Year award. If she continues to perform consistently in the playoffs, the Aces could become the second team in WNBA history to achieve a 3-peat. And for her, it would be a fairytale ending to a long career, that is, if she chooses to retire at the end of the 2024 season.