Latest news with #HaleyJones
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mercury sign ex-Dream 1st-round pick after Alyssa Thomas injury
The post Mercury sign ex-Dream 1st-round pick after Alyssa Thomas injury appeared first on ClutchPoints. With Alyssa Thomas being on the injury report and not being on the Phoenix Mercury's two-game road trip, the team signed former Atlanta Dream first-round pick Haley Jones to a hardship contract. Advertisement Jones was previously with the Dream. She was in all 40 games and had 24 starts. In those games, she averaged 3.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 17.8 minutes. However, the Dream's first-round pick was a star at Stanford. She was an all-around guard who was an exceptional rebounder for her size, as well as a crafty scorer. Her physicality was a major factor in Stanford's success and also contributed to their 2021 national championship win. Even though the Dream shockingly released Jones, she's found her way onto another WNBA team. Her contributions can complement Phoenix well. After all, Jones and Thomas are a bit similar in their play styles. They are both extremely physical, tenacious defenders, and have a knack for getting into the teeth of the defense. Advertisement Still, the influx of injuries, combined with Jones playing her first game with the team doesn't make matters any easier. Haley Jones is a nice addition to the Mercury with Alyssa Thomas out © Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images As mentioned earlier, Jones has a knack for getting into the teeth of the defense. However, the team is down a good number of players. Now, the Mercury are down three starters, including Kahleah Copper and Natasha Mack. Regardless of that, Satou Sabally has put the team on her back, and other players have risen to the occasion. For instance, rookies Monique Akoa Makani, Kitija Laksa, and Kathryn Westbeld have stepped up big time. Advertisement Adding Jones to the mix can provide the team with some youth, yet nice experience. Even though she brings that experience, learning a new system in less than 24 hours is daunting. No matter what, Phoenix has a chance to secure its fifth win of the season against the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday. Jones can be an immediate contributor in a short-handed Mercury squad.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mercury's Nate Tibbetts drops ‘tough' assessment on adding new players
The post Mercury's Nate Tibbetts drops 'tough' assessment on adding new players appeared first on ClutchPoints. Injuries, players leaving for Eurobasket, and a myriad of other things have Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts's head on a swivel. As a result, he's looked to players like Haley Jones, Megan McConnell, and Murjanatu Musa for support. Advertisement Tibbetts was brutally honest about the challenge of integrating new players immediately into the teams. 'I think when you add those players, you get to see them move and try to make plays,' Tibbetts said on the team's postgame zoom following a 88-65 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday. 'It's tough. You haven't had the practice time … 'Because when you're adding these players and they don't know our stuff, it just makes it tough… We had three (new) players in the rotation. They're trying, and we're trying to help them. But it makes it extremely tough to put a well-executed group out there, just because I mean, everyone's learning on the fly.' Advertisement With McConnell and Jones they joined the team on the road. They haven't had the chance to practice and get assimilated with the team dynamics, along with learning plays. They've been thrown into the fire. After all, the Mercury signed Jones to a contract only hours before the team's game against the Los Angeles Sparks. The morning before Tuesday's game against the Minnesota Lynx, the team signed McConnell. She was a part of the team's training camp before being released. Furthermore, Musa was overseas for the beginning of the season. Although Musa was supposed to a Mercury X-factor, she hasn't had much playing time. Advertisement The rebounding specialist has practice only a handful of times. However, with injuries to Kahleah Copper, Natasha Mack, and Alyssa Thomas, she, and McConnell and Jones have been thrown into the fire. Nate Tibbetts sees Mercury's challenge with adding new players © Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images Tibbetts's points haven't been about the lack of skill. After all, the trio of new players have exceeded tremendously wherever they went. Whether it was college or overseas, they have quality experience. Still, being a key contributor is understanding the system. The Phoenix head coach has a balanced approach, that has been heavily emphasized on the defensive end this season. Advertisement The Mercury are amongst one of the top defensive teams, in terms of points per game and defensive rating. Regardless of the defensive philosophies, the team is a well-oiled machine, offensively. Without Thomas, though, easy shots have been hard to come by. That, and adding new players to the mix could be a recipe for disaster. Either way, Phoenix will likely have to rely on more newcomers moving forward. After McConnell collided with Alissa Pili during Tuesday's game, she left with a knee injury. That might force the Mercury to have to sign another player to a training camp. That could only amplify Tibbetts's concerns about integrating players into the team system. Advertisement The team will hope for a reset against the Golden State Valkyries on Thursday back in Phoenix, and in front of the X-factor fanbase. Related: Mercury agree to contract with TJ McConnell's sister Related: What started Mercury's record-setting comeback vs. Sparks
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mercury Sign Former Top-10 Pick in Latest WNBA News
Mercury Sign Former Top-10 Pick in Latest WNBA News originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Phoenix Mercury have added a former first-round pick in the WNBA Draft who only turned 24 years old last month. Advertisement Phoenix announced on its social media account Sunday the team has signed Haley Jones. The Atlanta Dream selected Jones at No. 6 overall in the 2023 WNBA Draft. "The Phoenix Mercury have signed guard/forward Haley Jones to a hardship contract," wrote the Mercury social media team. A hardship contract is intended to be a short-term deal to allow WNBA teams to have more than the 12-player roster maximum for a period. It's used in the league to allow teams to add more players when several others on the roster are dealing with injuries. Former Atlanta Dream No. 6 overall pick Haley Jones© Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Guard Kahleah Cooper and forwards Natasha Mack and Alyssa Thomas are currently sidelined for the Mercury. Advertisement Phoenix guard Lexi Held is also considered day-to-day entering the team's next game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday. Jones was a star with the Stanford Cardinal. The guard started for Stanford in 2020-21 when the team went 31-2 and won the national championship. The following season, Jones made first-team All-America with 13.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. During her senior season, she made third-team All-America, but her statistics improved to 13.5 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists per game. In 80 games with the Dream, Jones registered 3.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per contest. She started 30 of those 80 games. Advertisement Of those starts, 24 of them came in 2024. The Dream surprisingly released Jones this spring before the start of the 2025 WNBA regular season. Related: Mercury Cut Ties With Award Winner Ahead of Second 2025 Matchup This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
