'Always Being Ready': Haley Jones Delivers Strong Finale for Wings Before Hardship Deal Ends

Though her tenure with the Dallas Wings was brief, Haley Jones left an undeniable mark in her final game — a hard-fought 79-71 victory over the Washington Mystics. Her performance was a powerful reminder of why she was once the No. 6 pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft before being waived on Sunday.

Jones, who came off the bench, infused the game with much-needed energy, composure, and basketball IQ. She finished with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting and boasted a team-high plus-23 in the plus-minus column, sparking a significant shift in the game’s momentum.

“I think it’s just always being ready and understanding what I can bring,” Jones told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “When my name was called, I was prepared. I haven’t been getting a lot of minutes, but I stay engaged and stay positive. When I got out there, the team was excited for me. The crowd was behind me — it was my first time playing in front of them, so that was really cool.”

The crowd’s enthusiastic reception — a roar of cheers as she entered the game — caught her by surprise as she played her first and final home game while on the hardship contract.

“I really wasn’t expecting anything,” she said with a smile. “It’s been like two weeks since I got here. I hadn’t played in front of the home crowd yet, but when I went out there, they were lit. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, OK, let me do something for real.’ That gave me a lot of juice. You’re nervous coming out there for the first time, but the energy from the crowd and the team helped me be impactful on both sides of the ball.”

Jones’ impact wasn’t limited to the fans; her teammates also felt it. Arike Ogunbowale, the Wings’ star guard, commended Jones for her readiness and execution.

“Yeah, obviously she’s coming into a new team, but she’s been in the league for a while,” Ogunbowale said. “She knows how to adapt. She knows how to get a bucket, and she showed just that. She stepped up and was ready when her number was called.”

Jones quickly found her offensive rhythm with an early fast-break layup, which helped calm her nerves and build confidence.

“My first one was a layup — run out, get to the rim, see the ball go in. That just makes you feel good,” she said. “A lot of it came from the confidence my teammates had in me, finding me, wanting me to shoot. And the shots were in my wheelhouse. I love the midrange, getting to the rim. It felt great.”

Wings head coach Chris Koclanes, who had worked with Jones in different wing roles during practice, highlighted her intelligence and versatility.

“Offensively and defensively, just extremely high IQ, smart, good length, and communicates well,” Koclanes said. “She can figure it out. Credit to her — she practiced a little bit at the four, and then I threw her in at the three. She just went with it. She’s a connector. She makes the right play, simple plays. She sees the next pass. You saw that skip to the corner — those are high-level reads.”

That skip pass, which led to a crucial 3-pointer, was just one of many subtle yet critical plays Jones made throughout the night. Her ability to influence the game without dominating the ball underscored her immediate value and left a lasting impression during her brief stint with the Wings. Her communication and instincts were instrumental in executing a 2-3 zone that the team hadn’t practiced.

“We don’t win that game without her,” said forward Myisha Hines-Allen, who shared frontcourt duties with Jones. “She was super aggressive. Her footwork was amazing. She got a couple of post players up in the air and was able to finish. And defensively? We don’t practice zone, but we just threw it out there and she was in the back line, talking, bumping down, grabbing the ball — she did extremely well.”

Hines-Allen emphasized Jones’ communication and her connective presence as crucial for a team struggling with continuity due to injuries and roster changes.

“It was just little things like that we needed,” she said. “And then on offense, she made the extra pass. Little plays like that — those ones matter.”

Jones, who played the three and the four during her collegiate career at Stanford, embraced the familiar versatility.

“I’ve been kind of practicing at the four with [the team], and then at one point [Coach] was like, ‘Hey, you’re at the three.’ I was like, ‘Alright, bet, let’s do it,’” Jones said with a laugh. “Don’t know a lot of the plays, but I’ll do my thing. Being able to be versatile, grab the rebound, push the break, initiate offense — that’s always been something I hang my hat on.”

Beyond her on-court performance, her perspective on the Wings’ team culture — a group fighting to find its rhythm amidst a challenging season start — was equally significant.

“They’re great,” Jones said of her teammates. “They’ve had a rough start, but the way they communicate, stay positive, and work through things — it just speaks to the character of the people here. Whether you’re the 12th person or just came in like me a few weeks ago, everybody is locked in and trying to win together. I’m excited to see where they keep going.”

In a league where opportunities often arise quickly and unexpectedly, Jones maximized hers. While her time in Dallas was short, her final performance sent a clear message: She is ready whenever her number is called.