WNBA News: Player Waived Again | Basketball Updates
- The Phoenix Mercury have waived guard Haley Jones,a week after signing her too a hardship contract.
- Jones, the sixth overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream, played in all 40 games for Atlanta last year, averaging 3.9 points.
- Now, the former Stanford standout is once again an unrestricted free agent.
The Phoenix Mercury have waived Haley Jones just a week after signing the guard, signaling the imminent return of key players from injury, a move that re-opens the door for the rookie as a free agent. Jones, the 2023 draft’s sixth overall pick, now faces the uncertainty of securing a consistent WNBA roster spot. This decision, driven by the Mercury’s need to adhere to league rules amidst their challenging season start, showcases the volatility of player roles. discover how News Directory 3 continues to deliver breaking basketball updates as the Mercury adapts to its injury struggles. The release likely means Alyssa Thomas and Natasha Mack are nearing a return. Discover what’s next for the mercury as thay navigate their injury landscape,and the opportunities it presents.
Mercury Waive Haley Jones as Injured Players Return
Updated June 8,2025
The Phoenix Mercury have waived guard Haley Jones,a week after signing her too a hardship contract. The move indicates that key players are nearing their return from injury.
Jones, the sixth overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream, played in all 40 games for Atlanta last year, averaging 3.9 points. After the Dream waived her in training camp, the Mercury picked her up amid a series of injuries. Jones appeared in four games for Phoenix, averaging 2.3 points.
Now, the former Stanford standout is once again an unrestricted free agent. Her struggle to secure a consistent roster spot underscores the challenges of maintaining a WNBA career. Jones, a defensive specialist, started 30 of her first 80 career games but now faces an uphill battle to find a team.
The values Haley Jones provides, in 1 sequence
Defends to scheme with the under & being directional vs the empty side PnR, keeping Satou out of needing to help
she then grabs the rebound & no need for an outlet pass because she can handle, the pace creates points pic.twitter.com/AsmSMJHwXw
— Stephen PridGeon-Garner (@StephenPG3) June 8, 2025
Phoenix has started the season 6-4, largely due to the performance of their undrafted rookies. Alyssa Thomas has missed half the games with a calf injury. Kahleah Copper has yet to play after preseason arthroscopic surgery. Rookie Megan McConnell is sidelined for 3-4 weeks with a knee injury, and Natasha Mack has been dealing with a back injury.
Because jones was signed under a hardship exception, league rules required her release once the Mercury had 10 healthy players.While the team hasn’t confirmed which players are returning, it’s likely Thomas and mack are back, given the longer recovery timelines for McConnell and Copper. The Phoenix Mercury continue to navigate an injury-riddled start to the WNBA season, impacting player roles and team dynamics.
What’s next
The Mercury will likely announce the return of Thomas and mack soon. The team hopes to get Copper and McConnell back on the court in the coming weeks.