The 2023 WNBA rookie class has left an early mark on the league, as multiple players have stood out as stars, carved out a solidified role, or played big minutes in wake of injuries. Immediate impact is essential in a league short on roster spots; there might not be a more difficult place to make it work in pro sports than the WNBA.
Haley Jones, the 6th overall pick to the Atlanta Dream, has showcased and embodied that notion. There might not be another player in the league who’s had to be more fluid in both their approach and role.
The Dream were hit hard with injuries to their guard rotation early, propelling Jones to a stretch of starting at point guard. She’s still ironing out the nuances of being a lead guard at the next level, and the customary highs and lows of a rookie have been evident.
Even as her role has fluctuated throughout the season as players have returned to the lineup, Jones’ growth is palpable. It’s easy to see how she fits into Atlanta’s long term plans with her versatility and court vision.
The Atlanta Dream select Haley Jones with the No. 6 pick 💫
Averages at Stanford this season 🌲
13.5 PPG
9.0 RPG
4.0 APG pic.twitter.com/SYZ89KmPFy— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 10, 2023
Before the midway point of the season, I caught up with Haley to talk about her growth, acclimating to the league, taking it day by day, and more.
Mark Schindler: First of all, congratulations on graduating! What was that whole feeling like? It’s hardly been a few months since you were drafted, what’s it been like being in the thick of everything?
Haley Jones: It was a whirlwind that whole weekend, like taking the red eye, and I didn’t realize how much of a toll that takes on your body. I got to Indy (Jones had a game against the Fever the day after graduation in Palo Alto) at like 6am and slept for five hours, then I get over there and do my pregame workout. I’m feeling good beforehand, like alright it’s just another gameday, but then I get out there and start warming up and I’m like *GIANT GASP* oh my gosh.
But I was just so excited about going back (to Stanford) and the staff of the Dream were so great about “do what you need” they didn’t even think I was gonna make it back for the game, but I was able to figure it out.
I was happy to be able to get back and have that closure that I didn’t really have. When you leave for the draft, you don’t go back. That’s it. So I did class on Zoom, whatever, I didn’t see the team, I didn’t get to see any of my friends. So, having the time to go back and get my Stanford goodbye meant a lot to me.
MS: That’s awesome, did you get to catch up with anybody you hadn’t seen in a while?
HJ: It was really cool! I got to see a lot of my friends and even people that transferred away, but still got their degree, they all came back to watch. It was so cool getting to see people that I hadn’t in two years because of COVID. One of my best friends went to USC and he just got back to say hi to everyone, so it was really good.
Stanford absolutely cooking with grease right now
Haley Jones with another dime and a fun set getting her and Brink linking up off movement pic.twitter.com/NTU8c1x4Xe
— Mark Schindler (@MG_Schindler) February 10, 2023
MS: I love to hear that so much. I want to transition to, what was the feeling like getting your first start in the W? Having it happen early, getting that under your belt, what was that feeling like?
HJ: It was really exciting. We had some people go down and that’s always tough, especially considering that the people who went down are the people who were helping me learn to play point guard everyday *laughs*
And so I’m looking to them and learning from Aari (McDonald) everyday at practice, and a vet like D Rob (Danielle Robinson) and they’re so amazing to be able to learn from. And then it’s all of a sudden, okay, it’s just me now! I think I played like 36 minutes against New York. I was PG, Rhyne (Howard) was helping out, but I think it came quicker than I expected.
I didn’t even expect to start or whatever, I don’t really think about that, but it was exciting and even the young people we have like Rhyne and Naz (Hillmon) do a really great job of keeping me locked in. I think it was in Connecticut, I had a rough second quarter, I threw like three turnovers, and I was in my head and T (Tanisha Wright) pulled me and was like take a breath, it happens. The team was like we trust you, it’s fine.
They do a really great job of keeping me grounded. When you’re a rookie, you’re like “alright, no mistakes,” so that’s been hard, but they do a really good job and having Aari and D Rob, every play, every timeout, they’re talking to me saying this and that, and now having D Rob back out there, it’s great to be able to play with one another, sub in and out.
Haley Jones is really starting to find comfort posting while driving to use her size to create angles
Really love some of what we've seen from her the past week or so as she's gotten more burn
These are the types of things that have always felt on the horizon for her as a pro pic.twitter.com/nS6fVBDHcQ
— Mark Schindler (@MG_Schindler) June 18, 2023
MS: In terms of staying grounded like you mentioned, how do you do that off the court? What things have you been trying to work through and be like “Hey, I’m not a student anymore.”
HJ: I think I’ve always done a good job of not having my whole identity be basketball. I think if that was the case for me, I’m the type of person… like people think I have two different identities: When I’m here in basketball, my trainer Packie (Turner) talks about it a lot, I’m lowkey a pessimist because I want everything to be perfect. So I’ve really had to work on my mindset to be more positive and optimistic.
Off the court, I’m this optimistic person, everything’s great, everything’s positive, so it’s just trying to find that happy medium within both.
I’ve started journaling a lot more, I do it before games every day and night. Now I’m trying to set my routine in Atlanta, make a community outside of the Dream, finding more hobbies to do… I just started water coloring! Really fun actually, I was on Amazon, you know how you make those late night purchases? At like 12:30 am the other day, looking for an easel to buy for my apartment, and I’m just gonna put it outside with like a little stool, and I was like “Haley, you’re on a rookie contract.”
MS: What all are you painting?
HJ: I’ve just done flowers and things like that, my other thing I wanna pick up is ceramics and design it, so I’ve gotta figure out where to do these things and how to budget these things.
MS: It’s so funny like you mention with basketball and bringing up art, because I struggled so much with art and wanting everything to be perfect.
HJ: I feel like, in basketball, it’s very XYZ whatever you’re doing, and so when I had school, that was my creative outlet. I did communication, I was writing, and now I feel like that part of me has left. But, I need to keep that part of what I’m doing… SO, watercolor, ceramics, I’m figuring it out *laughs*.
MS: Going back to basketball for a sec, has anything changed with how you’re looking at stuff through film and how you’re taking on your game? You’ve gotten to really flex and show more of your stuff as a driver and how you’re attacking the paint, so what has game to game been like with that?
HJ: Dale (McNeil, Atlanta Dream Player Development Coach) is a really great coach. So I try to work with him as much as I can, off days, doing whatever, but he also understands when I’m doing work after shootaround and I’m gonna play more minutes that day, he’s not gonna have you running up and down court, this and that, and it’ll be more stationery work.
What he does a really good job at is understanding what shots I’m gonna get today. It’s like, I’m working on this thing, so when I get to the game, oh, I’ve made these reads! I want to get to this spot, this is how you have to attack the defense.
Atlanta’s best lineup in terms of net rating this season? (Minimum 40 minutes)
Rhyne Howard
Allisha Gray
Cheyenne Parker
Nia Coffey
And…Haley Jones pic.twitter.com/oBiZK7l2JR
— Dano Mataya (@drmataya) July 22, 2023
And you know Packie is my guy, so we keep in touch all the time, we talk on the phone, we chit chat. But, I’m trying to figure out when I see him next, it’s been so long, like separation anxiety *laughs*
We’re definitely finding a time, but working with the coaches here, watching film with them, everyone does a really great job of growing and expanding my skill set.
MS: I feel that so much too, because I was living with my parents after graduating, I’d see my mom all day every day, and she called me yesterday and is like ‘I haven’t seen you in two weeks!’ which is wild. Living in Atlanta in general, I know you mentioned branching out, what’s your favorite part about being here?
HJ: Honestly, I just feel like the culture here is so different after living in the Bay for 21 years, and people here, you get that Southern Hospitality. The West was always nice and relaxed, but you walk by somebody on the street here and it’s like “Hi! How are you?” …the Stanford alumni base here is really good, and a bunch of them came out to my first game and I got in touch with one of the old track people at Stanford and we’ve been hanging out.
So branching out, seeing family, making more ties, because it’s really just my immediate family on the West Coast. I’ve always kept in touch with family here, but never had those bonds, so really working on creating those relationships. Cousins that I used to hang out with all the time when I was younger, now we’re adults and it’s like “oh, what do you really like now? Let’s get to know you!” So it’s cool.
MS: How was it having your parents come through? I know they were here for a couple of games.
HJ: Yeah they were here for that first weekend of home games, and then they were here for three games of that five game stretch, because my cousin’s wedding was happening. It was so great having them out. They even stayed at my apartment complex, because my mom found some deals cheaper to stay there than a hotel, so I got some home cooked meals, and my brother’s coming out soon and I’m excited to see him!
MS: That’s awesome, I’m so glad you have that! Haley, I really appreciate your time!
