2025 WNBA All-Stars, captains Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier
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Jun 19, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) before the game against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 27: Allisha Gray #15 of the Atlanta Dream during an 88-82 Atlanta Dream win over the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena on May 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by)
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Jun 19, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7) laughs before the game against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
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Jun 7, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Seattle Storm guard Skylar Diggins (4) reacts fater scoring against the Seattle Storm in the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
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Jun 20, 2025; College Park, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard (10) dribbles against Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes (20)during the second half at Gateway Center Arena at College Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
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Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) smiles after a play Thursday, July 3, 2025, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Las Vegas Aces at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
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Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum (10) smiles Thursday, June 26, 2025, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Los Angeles Sparks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Los Angeles Sparks defeated the Indiana Fever, 85-75.
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Jun 1, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams (10) gestures after making a three point basket against the Golden State Valkyries during the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
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Jun 7, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) during the second quarter against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
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Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
The Mind Of A Champion: Inside The NBA Sports Medicine Series
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - JUNE 22: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder ... More celebrates with the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player trophy after defeating the Indiana Pacers 103-91 in Game Seven of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center on June 22, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) It takes a comprehensive team to bring out the best in an NBA player and organization. In addition to the team focused on maximizing the performance during the game, a team of clinicians, executives, and scientists that spans sports medicine professionals. Data analytics, physicians, physical therapists, athletic trainers, nutritionists, and many more collaborate to bring out the elite performance in world-class athletes. Sometimes this work is done in silos, and best-in-class tips may not be shared effectively across a team or across a league. That is where the vision of the NBA Summer League Sports Medicine Series enters, led by Dani Lonford, Manager of Player Rehabilitation Golden State Warriors. Dani Langford The goal is to break down walls, create dialogue between NBA and non-NBA professionals, and support those helping athletes guests included NBA veteran Brook Lopez, Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs, and league executives that included Alvin Gentry, Vice President of the Sacramento Kings, and Tommy Sheppard, former General Manager of the Washington Wizards. I had the opportunity to sit down with several of them during the event to discuss the intricate ecosystem of team sports and the specialized career skills that are essential to develop in order to advance in this pathway. INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 23: Head coach Alvin Gentry of the Sacramento Kings looks on in the ... More second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 23, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) The following are five key takeaways from the Sports Medicine Series that may redefine how you think about success in the arena of sports. 1. Learn the Language of the league The most effective professionals can connect their expertise with others around them. In sports, silos between athletic trainers, data scientists, and medical staff can slow down performance improvement. In business, similar gaps exist between strategy, operations, and execution. This rapid and efficient communication is critical when it comes to managing or preventing injury, maximizing team dynamics, and staying ahead of potential challenges throughout the season. Brook Lopez & Mena Mirhom NBA veteran Brook Lopez emphasized that the most trusted people on his care team are not always the ones with the most credentials. They are the ones who communicate clearly and collaborate across roles. Danielle Langford said it best: 'Creating more fluidity between levels, departments, between people, is how we grow. Getting everyone in the same room shifts the conversation.' One of the key panels of the conference highlighted the importance of this efficient, effective, and thorough communication across the organization. MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 28: Alize Johnson #27 of the Washington Wizards talks with general manager ... More Tommy Sheppard prior to the game against the Miami Heat at FTX Arena on December 28, 2021 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) Tommy Sheppard, a veteran executive of the NBA for over 30 years, emphasized the importance of being great at the specific role that we have. We must all embrace how important it is to understand our roles. The professional athlete needs support in so many areas, and it is crucial that everyone embraces their role to provide support to the best of their ability. Career takeaway: Learn your craft deeply, but also learn how to speak the language of others. Progress often happens in the spaces between specialties. 2. Focus on the Players, not the Prestige Across every panel and conversation, one idea kept resurfacing. If the athlete does not feel seen, none of the work matters. There is a lot of glamour that comes with being around professional athletes. It's important to go beyond the show and focus on the humans themselves. Dani Langford puts it this way when asked about the most important career skills needed in this work: The top ones are adaptability and flexibility. Your schedule can change the night before a game. Communication and teamwork are also huge. At the Warriors, the people make the place special, so connecting with others and checking your ego at the door are important. You need to be here for the people, not the principle extends beyond sports. In leadership, entrepreneurship, and healthcare, people are more likely to thrive when they feel personally understood. Career takeaway: Beware of fandom in professional sports careers. In order to create a sustainable career, the player must be central to your work, not just the prestige of the role. 3. Translate complex data into daily insight Sports science is advancing rapidly. Metrics like heart rate variability and sleep efficiency are now standard in elite environments. But what happens when the data says one thing and the person says another? Jalen Suggs & Mena Mirhom MD Jalen Suggs offered a candid insight: 'The numbers help, but sometimes you just know your body's not there yet.' Danielle Langford added: 'You can bring positive energy, create a good environment, and contribute. But in the end, it's really about the athlete.' In complex fields, numbers provide clarity, but intuition and relationships built from experience still plays a vital role. Career takeaway: Data should inform your decisions, but it cannot replace judgment. The best professionals learn how to blend both.4. Respect the Complexity of Recovery Recovery is a major theme in professional sports. This goes beyond a specific injury but expands to the daily process that involves micro-recovery of the sleep schedule, managing difficult headlines, and maintaining an elite routine. This process is often not just physical but engages the entire team. The process involves timing, focus, and comprehensive recovery. Jalen Suggs explained it well: Trusting your body again is a whole different level of emotional and mental layer is true in professional life outside of sports as well. Reentering after burnout or disappointment requires more than just reengagement. It requires self-awareness and support. World-renowned Senior Sports Psychiatrist, Derek Suite, MD, who has over 15 years of guiding elite athletes across the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLS, explains how he trains the next generation of sports psychiatrists to approach helping players with sports injuries navigate the recovery process: Derek H. Suite, MD, senior sports psychiatrist and performance consultant with 15 years of ... More experience across the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLS, specializing in injury recovery and return-to-play diagnostic precision- distinguishing grief over lost ability from clinical depression, because the interventions are worlds apart. Second, somatic integration-the body keeps the score of injury trauma, so we rebuild neural pathways through graded exposure, not just positive thinking. Third, ecosystem leadership, an athlete's recovery lives in the spaces between medical appointments, so we orchestrate care teams like conductors, not consultants Career takeaway: Growth and recovery are not linear. Understanding the dynamic ecosystem of a team allows you to become indispensable to an organization. 5. Understand that information is currency The balance between privacy and transparency can be a difficult one to strike. One of the most important principles in professional sports is that it must always be player-driven. I spoke with Maggie Bryant, President of Performance Health and Wellness, who often navigates this nuanced approach to keeping staff informed while fiercely guarding players' Bryant, President of Performance Health and Wellness, Los Angeles Clippers 'Information is gold. The ability to communicate at a high level and know when to share something, and who needs to know, is key. Having a clear-cut process in mind establishes trust. The more trust you can develop with players, the more effective you will be. She discussed that at this level, you can be a very skilled clinician but be entirely ineffective if players do not trust you or buy into your approach. She credits her father as well as key mentors, who walked her through foundational skills of establishing these long-term relationships with authenticity. Career takeaway: The discipline of developing trusting relationships is a career skill that is sometimes even more valuable than the technical skills of a position. Bottom Line The Sports Medicine Series was more than an event. It was a snapshot of what sustainable, fulfilling careers look like in high-performance fields of sport. Building a great career in sports is about learning across disciplines, respecting the complexity of team dynamics, and never losing sight of the people you serve.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
How masked veteran Tiffany Hayes has breathed life into the Valkyries' inaugural season
Tiffany Hayes breathes harder now. So hard, she can hear herself. Sometimes, she'll just be sitting, fully relaxed. But her breathing would sound as if she were running. Like she's mid-workout. Like it's a struggle. It's been some two months since Hayes took a blow to the nostrils on a post-up by Washington Mystics center Shakira Austin. The injury leaves her nasal passage still restricted. The wheeze lives with her for now, until she can address it comprehensively in the offseason. A black protective mask covers her face during games. Multiple hits to the face since then remind her of its necessity. 'The mask is staying for now,' said Hayes, affectionately dubbed 'Tip' by most. 'It's chippy out here. People just do a little too much sometimes. So, yeah, it's definitely going to stay. I like the mask. 'Masked Tip' be hooping.' The irony, though, is that Hayes is breathing easier than she ever has. Because what she's inhaling now isn't the stale, recycled air of others' expectations. The pressurized toxicity of outside validation no longer fills her lungs. That was another life. Another version of Tip. The Hayes who did what others thought was best. Who quietly pursued affirmation in praise and accolades, who found value in their attainment. This Hayes, the one who came out of retirement and won Sixth Woman of the Year in 2024, the one who assumed the leadership role of the expansion Golden State Valkyries, has found something rare in pro sports. Peace. 'I used to do things that were best for other people, and I regret it,' she says now. 'So I just try to do what's best for me. And it's been working out great.' The signing of Hayes, infusing her into the building blocks of this infant franchise, has been one of the best moves in this surprising season. It took Hayes a long time to reach this enlightenment. She'll be 36 in September. She's in her 13th season. But she looks and plays 10 years younger thanks to the fresh air she's found above the fray. Her value, she's convinced, is independent of accolades. Her game, her character, her contributions to whatever team she's on — they're valuable no matter who sees them. The peace she owns made jumping into the expansion life an easy call for Hayes. It explains why she seems to be loving it, why she embraces being in the center of this patchwork huddle. She came to the Bay without fanfare. No billboard. Just a lowkey deal between a veteran who'd seen it all and a franchise just opening its eyes. Golden State needed credibility. Someone who wouldn't flinch at what was to come. Hayes needed freedom to be herself, play her game. A place where she could be Tip. They found each other at the perfect time. 'To be a pioneer is hard,' Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin said. 'This was an opportunity to co-create an experience that would be beneficial for both. She has a beautiful entrepreneurial spirit. And what I pretty much told her was that this is a class in entrepreneurship — 101 to 501 in one year. To really put an idea to paper. To give us a precious year of her career to help build what we thought would be something amazing. … And she took a chance.' Expansion teams can be a mess. Overwhelmed to the point of disorganization. A locker room lacking cohesion from its hurried collaboration, loaded with misfit pieces and fringe players hoping to carve out relevance. But the Valkyries? They've been shockingly cohesive. Professional. Even joyful at times. They hit a rough patch before the All-Star break, losing five of six. But they're still in the playoff hunt. Somehow, Golden State has made it work. In part because of Hayes. Hayes starred at UConn — from the 90 straight wins era — and spent 10 years with the Atlanta Dream. She made her lone WNBA All-Star appearance in 2017. Should have been more than one, if you ask her. Hayes is now on her third team in three seasons. She retired and came back. She's started and come off the bench. She excelled at scoring and played defense. She's played for Team USA and the Azerbaijan women's national team. Her wealth of experiences made her ideal for this inaugural season. She came in equipped to deal with just about whatever would come. Including the warmth she's found. The camaraderie of being on a team furnished with overcomers. 'I still believe that I was an underdog in most of my career,' Hayes said, 'and kind of unseen for most of my career. I've been having my head down and being a good professional and playing my hardest every single season I've been in the league. So to be on a team full of people like that, and a team full of people who want everybody to the left and right to succeed, it's super dope to be part of. So I'm grateful.' Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase predicted this. She told Nyanin to go and get Hayes. Nyanin didn't know Hayes. She knew she'd never heard a bad word about her, and remembers appreciating her reasoning for opting out of the WNBA bubble in 2020. But Nakase was with Hayes last season in Las Vegas. Nakase was an assistant coach as Hayes came out of retirement to average 9.5 points in 21 minutes off the bench — shooting 50 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from 3. According to Nyanin, Nakase was certain Hayes would be ideal for the locker room. Nakase knew she'd need a true vet. She also knew Hayes deserved an opportunity like this, to be liberated as a player and leader. Nakase was proven right immediately. One illustrative moment came after she sustained a nose injury. Hayes missed the next three games. Upon her return, coaches were considering lineup combinations — including Hayes coming off the bench. An early chance to create tension in this new relationship. But Hayes was clear. She told coaches she didn't come to the Valkyries to start. She came to win. Whatever it takes. 'And to hear that from your ultimate vet, the person who took a chance on this new franchise,' Nyanin explained. 'There's been a ton of growth (in Hayes), and I'm just grateful to be a part of it.' Her teammates call her auntie. Auntie Tip. Auntie is a term of endearment, a reference to the mom-aged woman young people like being around. Aunties are cool, with their cocoa butter and classic music. They don't call her Auntie Tip just because she's the eldest on the squad and eight years above the league average. It's an appreciation of her sophistication and polish. Recognition of the swag that comes with her experience. 'I don't mind it though,' Hayes said. 'It's whatever. I don't look like your auntie. I probably look younger than you. But go off.' Hayes embodies the Valkyrie's personality. The urgency. The rebellious energy. The aggressiveness. It's the character of the roster and the foundation of the new franchise. The freedom to compete, to be uninhibited in pursuit of victory. One play in Minnesota earlier this month, she lost her shoe during a possession and tossed it aside. She ended the same possession by draining a 30-footer. The type of moment to laugh about in film sessions. The type of moment that's memorable because it meant more than it looked. It was gritty. Unorthodox. Unbothered. Just like this team. Hayes sets the whatever-it-takes tone. Whether being glued to Caitlin Clark — which is why she's 7 of 26 from the field against the Valkyries this season, including 2 of 12 from 3 — or lighting up Seattle like she did at Chase Center in June. Hayes' energy, which still seems endless, feeds the team. Mask on, motor humming, cutting through defenders like it's 2015 again. There's still fire in her game. She still boasts the first-step quickness that made her a menace in Atlanta. But what Hayes has now is a calm spirit to match. Hayes worked for this peace. Earned it. Built it brick by brick out of heartbreak, hard lessons, and a whole lot of self-reflection. Emotionally. Mentally. She's never been clearer. She meditates. She prays. She enjoys uplifting music. She savors good food. She consumes fashion. And that's not to say she likes nice clothes. She can rock gigantic fur pants, or shorts with a blazer, or incorporate 10 ties into her outfit — and make it all look fly. It's all part of her bent to stimulate her mind and body. 'I don't even like to be associated with negativity,' Hayes continued. 'Nowadays it's just like people feed off that, especially in the W. People, the fans, feed off of negativity, and it just seems like that's growing a little too much for me. And I don't really like that. So I try to stay out of it. I try to duck the smoke, like the kids say, whatever that is.' It's easier to breathe that way. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Golden State Valkyries, WNBA 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
5 hours ago
- New York Times
How masked veteran Tiffany Hayes has breathed life into the Valkyries' inaugural season
Tiffany Hayes breathes harder now. So hard, she can hear herself. Sometimes, she'll just be sitting, fully relaxed. But her breathing would sound as if she were running. Like she's mid-workout. Like it's a struggle. It's been some two months since Hayes took a blow to the nostrils on a post-up by Washington Mystics center Shakira Austin. The injury leaves her nasal passage still restricted. The wheeze lives with her for now, until she can address it comprehensively in the offseason. A black protective mask covers her face during games. Multiple hits to the face since then remind her of its necessity. Advertisement 'The mask is staying for now,' said Hayes, affectionately dubbed 'Tip' by most. 'It's chippy out here. People just do a little too much sometimes. So, yeah, it's definitely going to stay. I like the mask. 'Masked Tip' be hooping.' The irony, though, is that Hayes is breathing easier than she ever has. Because what she's inhaling now isn't the stale, recycled air of others' expectations. The pressurized toxicity of outside validation no longer fills her lungs. That was another life. Another version of Tip. The Hayes who did what others thought was best. Who quietly pursued affirmation in praise and accolades, who found value in their attainment. This Hayes, the one who came out of retirement and won Sixth Woman of the Year in 2024, the one who assumed the leadership role of the expansion Golden State Valkyries, has found something rare in pro sports. Peace. 'I used to do things that were best for other people, and I regret it,' she says now. 'So I just try to do what's best for me. And it's been working out great.' Perfect tip to Tip 🎯 Kayla Thornton finds Tiffany Hayes for three! PHX-GSV | League Pass — WNBA (@WNBA) July 15, 2025 The signing of Hayes, infusing her into the building blocks of this infant franchise, has been one of the best moves in this surprising season. It took Hayes a long time to reach this enlightenment. She'll be 36 in September. She's in her 13th season. But she looks and plays 10 years younger thanks to the fresh air she's found above the fray. Her value, she's convinced, is independent of accolades. Her game, her character, her contributions to whatever team she's on — they're valuable no matter who sees them. The peace she owns made jumping into the expansion life an easy call for Hayes. It explains why she seems to be loving it, why she embraces being in the center of this patchwork huddle. Advertisement She came to the Bay without fanfare. No billboard. Just a lowkey deal between a veteran who'd seen it all and a franchise just opening its eyes. Golden State needed credibility. Someone who wouldn't flinch at what was to come. Hayes needed freedom to be herself, play her game. A place where she could be Tip. They found each other at the perfect time. 'To be a pioneer is hard,' Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin said. 'This was an opportunity to co-create an experience that would be beneficial for both. She has a beautiful entrepreneurial spirit. And what I pretty much told her was that this is a class in entrepreneurship — 101 to 501 in one year. To really put an idea to paper. To give us a precious year of her career to help build what we thought would be something amazing. … And she took a chance.' Expansion teams can be a mess. Overwhelmed to the point of disorganization. A locker room lacking cohesion from its hurried collaboration, loaded with misfit pieces and fringe players hoping to carve out relevance. But the Valkyries? They've been shockingly cohesive. Professional. Even joyful at times. They hit a rough patch before the All-Star break, losing five of six. But they're still in the playoff hunt. Somehow, Golden State has made it work. In part because of Hayes. Hayes starred at UConn — from the 90 straight wins era — and spent 10 years with the Atlanta Dream. She made her lone WNBA All-Star appearance in 2017. Should have been more than one, if you ask her. Hayes is now on her third team in three seasons. She retired and came back. She's started and come off the bench. She excelled at scoring and played defense. She's played for Team USA and the Azerbaijan women's national team. Her wealth of experiences made her ideal for this inaugural season. She came in equipped to deal with just about whatever would come. Advertisement Including the warmth she's found. The camaraderie of being on a team furnished with overcomers. 'I still believe that I was an underdog in most of my career,' Hayes said, 'and kind of unseen for most of my career. I've been having my head down and being a good professional and playing my hardest every single season I've been in the league. So to be on a team full of people like that, and a team full of people who want everybody to the left and right to succeed, it's super dope to be part of. So I'm grateful.' Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase predicted this. She told Nyanin to go and get Hayes. Nyanin didn't know Hayes. She knew she'd never heard a bad word about her, and remembers appreciating her reasoning for opting out of the WNBA bubble in 2020. But Nakase was with Hayes last season in Las Vegas. Nakase was an assistant coach as Hayes came out of retirement to average 9.5 points in 21 minutes off the bench — shooting 50 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from 3. According to Nyanin, Nakase was certain Hayes would be ideal for the locker room. Nakase knew she'd need a true vet. She also knew Hayes deserved an opportunity like this, to be liberated as a player and leader. Nakase was proven right immediately. One illustrative moment came after she sustained a nose injury. Hayes missed the next three games. Upon her return, coaches were considering lineup combinations — including Hayes coming off the bench. An early chance to create tension in this new relationship. But Hayes was clear. She told coaches she didn't come to the Valkyries to start. She came to win. Whatever it takes. 'And to hear that from your ultimate vet, the person who took a chance on this new franchise,' Nyanin explained. 'There's been a ton of growth (in Hayes), and I'm just grateful to be a part of it.' Her teammates call her auntie. Auntie Tip. Auntie is a term of endearment, a reference to the mom-aged woman young people like being around. Aunties are cool, with their cocoa butter and classic music. They don't call her Auntie Tip just because she's the eldest on the squad and eight years above the league average. It's an appreciation of her sophistication and polish. Recognition of the swag that comes with her experience. Advertisement 'I don't mind it though,' Hayes said. 'It's whatever. I don't look like your auntie. I probably look younger than you. But go off.' Hayes embodies the Valkyrie's personality. The urgency. The rebellious energy. The aggressiveness. It's the character of the roster and the foundation of the new franchise. The freedom to compete, to be uninhibited in pursuit of victory. One play in Minnesota earlier this month, she lost her shoe during a possession and tossed it aside. She ended the same possession by draining a 30-footer. The type of moment to laugh about in film sessions. The type of moment that's memorable because it meant more than it looked. It was gritty. Unorthodox. Unbothered. Just like this team. Hayes sets the whatever-it-takes tone. Whether being glued to Caitlin Clark — which is why she's 7 of 26 from the field against the Valkyries this season, including 2 of 12 from 3 — or lighting up Seattle like she did at Chase Center in June. Hayes' energy, which still seems endless, feeds the team. TUFF BUCKET TIFFANY HAYES! Tip is up to 14 PTS and counting for the @valkyries NYL-GSV | League Pass — WNBA (@WNBA) June 26, 2025 Mask on, motor humming, cutting through defenders like it's 2015 again. There's still fire in her game. She still boasts the first-step quickness that made her a menace in Atlanta. But what Hayes has now is a calm spirit to match. Hayes worked for this peace. Earned it. Built it brick by brick out of heartbreak, hard lessons, and a whole lot of self-reflection. Emotionally. Mentally. She's never been clearer. She meditates. She prays. She enjoys uplifting music. She savors good food. She consumes fashion. And that's not to say she likes nice clothes. She can rock gigantic fur pants, or shorts with a blazer, or incorporate 10 ties into her outfit — and make it all look fly. Advertisement It's all part of her bent to stimulate her mind and body. 'I don't even like to be associated with negativity,' Hayes continued. 'Nowadays it's just like people feed off that, especially in the W. People, the fans, feed off of negativity, and it just seems like that's growing a little too much for me. And I don't really like that. So I try to stay out of it. I try to duck the smoke, like the kids say, whatever that is.' It's easier to breathe that way. (Photo of Tiffany Hayes: Michael Hickey / Getty Images)
