OAKLAND — As Tiffany Hayes approached a group of over 60 young basketball players at Head-Royce High, the applause from the campers echoed across the North Oakland school’s campus.
For a few hours on Saturday afternoon, a group of elementary and middle school girls got the chance to learn from the Golden State Valkyries guard as they participated in the Tip-Off Court Currency Basketball Camp. Hayes not only taught the players jump stops and crossovers, but also gave them a crash course in savings accounts and asset management.
While she has plenty of basketball ahead of her, this is how Hayes, 35, sees her post-playing career going.
“I wanted to teach everyone how to read a defense and how to read a bank statement,” Hayes told the Bay Area News Group. “You shouldn’t have to move through the world that young and not know these things. I just wanted to give it back in a fun way so the kids can learn these things.”
Hayes has lived in the Bay Area for just a few months, but has already made strides to ingratiate herself with the local community in Oakland. She teamed up with Head-Royce girls basketball coach Britnea Moore along with several of her players to host Saturday’s camp.
Along with Hayes, fellow Valkyries players such as Kate Martin, Monique Billings, Kayla Thornton and Veronica Burton all made appearances. The group of players signed autographs and took pictures with a group of excited, young fans.
“The big thing for me and Tiffany is not only giving back to the community, but making sure that the girls exclusively get the opportunity to be in the gym with players and athletes that have varying journeys and they can see a replica of themselves up there,” Moore said.
“We operate in a really heavily male dominated realm of work, so this is important. Especially for Oakland and the Bay Area to see this expansion team jumping off and pouring into the next generation.”
New place, same mission
Hayes signed with the Valkyries this past offseason knowing nothing about the Bay Area. The Florida native was drafted in the second round by the Atlanta Dream out of UConn in 2012. She played in Atlanta for 10 years, and had stints with the Connecticut Sun and the Las Vegas Aces before signing with the Valkyries in February.
Hayes is the oldest player on Golden State’s roster. When the veteran was signed, Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said, “She’s an exceptional mentor who understands what it takes to play, and succeed, at the highest level.”
While Hayes has held camps in the cities she’s lived in before, she hopes that work like this will translate to her play on the court.
“One of my biggest things now is being more of a vocal leader,” Hayes said. “Just being able to bring that to the camp showing them the power of that is big. The power of opening your mouth and speaking, even if it’s just asking for help.”
Investing in young minds
While Moore and Hayes drilled down the fundamentals of shooting a jumper, they also made sure the young campers were locked in for lessons on financial literacy.
Hayes brought in experts from UBS to give a presentation on savings accounts, stocks and 401(k)s. Later, Hayes gave a lecture about Name, Image and Likeness (NIL).
“Financial literacy is about survival now, especially for the young athletes coming in with money with NIL” Hayes said. “I’ve seen too many people lose it all because nobody taught them how to manage it or multiply it or just move smart in general. You shouldn’t have to move through the world when you’re that young and not learn these things.”
Mentorship hits home
Rising fifth grader Kofo Afalabi is hoping one day she could help Moore and Head-Royce win state championships. Afalabi said she works on her game every week, but nothing compared to seeing Hayes and the Valkyries drop by her future school.
“It was inspiring,” Afalabi said. “When they come out and you see how far they come, it inspires me to be just like them.”
Before heading to Washington University in St. Louis, recent Head-Royce graduate and former all-Bay Area News Group basketball player Micah Nyamuzuwe volunteered to be a camp coach. He said seeing the way young players reacted to the Valkyries was a special moment for him.
“Being able to give back and see the Valkyries come back to my high school gym where it all started for me was uplifting,” Nyamuzuwe said. “It’s cool to give back to the youth and incorporating the girls too is pretty special.”
A life after basketball
Though Hayes is invested in creating a brighter future for the next generation of basketball players, she doesn’t see herself drawing up plays or creating practice plans any time soon.
“People ask me all the time if I want to be a coach. I don’t think that’s in me,” Hayes said.
Aside from her work in basketball, Hayes has been an advocate for mental health.
Earlier this year, she created an Instagram channel called Tap in w/Tip where she speaks to fans and encourages them to share anything that’s on their mind. On the channel, Hayes has given advice, sent words of encouragement and interacted with fans about anything besides basketball.
“I just wanted to have a space where people can come and hold each other accountable,” Hayes said. “Sometimes I ask for advice or I’ll ask what they do to get through their day. That’s things I need to hear.”
After this year, Hayes’ future is unknown. She is set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season and a productive year can mean a bigger contract from another team.
But regardless of where her basketball career takes her, Hayes is more than happy to share her knowledge with anyone who asks.
“I’m always giving out information,” Hayes said. “I’ve been through it. I’m still going through it now. The basketball stuff I know, but I’m always happy to talk about financial stuff because I am still going through that til this day. I’m always glad to talk and game plan about that.”
