The Phoenix Mercury have signed Haley Jones to a hardship contract, the workforce introduced on Sunday.
Jones, initially chosen sixth total within the 2023 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream, appeared in all 40 video games for the Dream final season, averaging 3.9 factors, 2.2 rebounds and a couple of.1 assists in 17.8 minutes. She was waived in coaching camp this season.
Jones is a defensive specialist who had a standout profession at Stanford, serving to the workforce win the nationwide championship in 2001, and averaging 13 factors and seven.5 rebounds in her collegiate profession.
The Phoenix Mercury are off to a sizzling begin regardless of mounting accidents
The Mercury have been one of many early shock groups of the WNBA season. They’re 5-2 to start out the season regardless of a number of accidents to key gamers; Kahleah Copper underwent arthroscopic knee surgical procedure firstly of the season, whereas Alyssa Thomas is at the moment sidelined with a calf damage.
A large a part of the Mercury’s success up to now this season has been the manufacturing of the workforce’s 4 undrafted rookies; Monique Akoa Makani, Kathryn Westbeld, Lexi Held, and Kitija Laksa. Makani is averaging 9.7 factors and a couple of.9 assists per sport, Westbeld is averaging 7.9 factors and three.9 rebounds, and Held is averaging 5.7 factors and 1.6 steals. Laksa is averaging 8.7 factors and 1.5 assists per sport.
Jones made her Mercury debut on Sunday, tallying 2 factors and an help in 4 minutes as Phoenix defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 85-80.