Former Atlanta Dream player Tiffany Hayes to retire from the WNBA after 11 seasons

Former Atlanta Dream guard Tiffany Hayes (15) in action during a WNBA basketball game against the Dallas Wings, Thursday, May 27, 2021, in College Park, Ga. (Danny Karnik/AP Photo)

Tiffany Hayes is retiring from the WNBA after 11 seasons.

The 34-year-old Hayes made the announcement on the “Counted Me Out” podcast.

The 5-foot-10 guard said she could keep playing overseas.



“It’s a lot of things,” Hayes said. “I really feel like I’m older now. I’ve got a lot of stuff that I really always wanted to get into, but I’m so busy because I’m playing year-round. … Plus my body, playing 11 seasons straight with no breaks, every year, two seasons in a year every time — that’s a lot.”

Hayes played college ball at Connecticut and won national titles in 2009 and 2010 while playing for coach Geno Auriemma. She was the 14th pick in the 2012 WNBA draft and played 10 seasons with the Atlanta Dream before being traded and playing one season for the Connecticut Sun.

Hayes averaged 13.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists in her career. Last season, she started all 40 games and averaged 12.1 points and 2.6 assists.