Fresh off their back-to-back WNBA titles, the Las Vegas Aces faced an unexpected plot twist last season: their three-peat dream fizzled out faster than an overhyped reality show. Now, as the WNBA free agency period approaches, the drama isn’t taking a backseat. Alysha Clark and Tiffany Hayes, two linchpins of the Aces’ roster, are about to hit the open market, and the rumor mill is spinning faster than a point guard in the paint.
Kevin Pelton, the WNBA’s resident Nostradamus (or so he claims), is already predicting big moves for the duo. For fans of juicy free agency gossip, this is your time to shine. According to Pelton, Clark and Hayes might just become the league’s next big disrupters, a la Allana Smith and Courtney Williams, who turned the Minnesota Lynx into championship contenders last season.
Let’s rewind for a moment. The Lynx, who had the audacity to defy expectations, snatched Smith and Williams last offseason. Their moves didn’t exactly break social media (no flame emojis, sadly), but they delivered where it mattered most: on the court. The Lynx stormed all the way to the WNBA Finals, giving the New York Liberty a run for their superteam money.
This time, Pelton believes history could repeat itself:
“Keep an eye on unrestricted free agents who could amplify star talent in a similar fashion, including … the Aces’ duo of Alysha Clark and Tiffany Hayes.”
Translation? Cue the dramatic music because this offseason could get spicy.
Clark and Hayes: The Low-Key Heroes Who Could Save Your Team
Before we dive headfirst into speculation, let’s talk numbers. Alysha Clark, a three-time champion and Sixth Player of the Year in 2023, is no stranger to stepping up in big moments. Sure, her 2024 averages—6.0 points and 3.6 rebounds on 44.3% shooting—won’t make stat nerds faint, but let’s not kid ourselves. Clark’s real superpower is her ability to do all the little things that don’t show up in box scores. She’s the Swiss Army knife every contender needs.
Then there’s Tiffany Hayes, a Sixth Player of the Year winner last season. Hayes brought a little bit of everything to the Aces in 2024: 9.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists per game, and a scorching 50% shooting percentage (40.2% from deep). At 34 years old, Hayes is still out here reminding everyone why age is just a number when your jump shot is pure poetry.
What Happens in Vegas … Might Leave Vegas
Let’s face it: free agency is the WNBA’s version of a soap opera. Will Clark and Hayes stay together? Will they part ways and wreak havoc on separate teams? Will Vegas fans start panic-tweeting at 3 a.m.? No one knows, but that’s the beauty of it.
With the WNBA’s free agency period officially starting after Jan. 20, teams are already gearing up to woo the Aces duo. And while Vegas is likely to make a strong pitch to retain them, the lure of a fresh start—or a bigger paycheck—could be hard to resist.
The Final Buzzer
Whether Clark and Hayes stay or go, one thing is clear: they’ve still got plenty of gas left in the tank to make a difference for any team lucky enough to sign them. For now, fans can only sit back, grab some popcorn, and watch the drama unfold.
Because in the WNBA, even the offseason comes with its fair share of highlights.
