The Guru’s WNBA Report: Haley Jones - The Big Assist Athletes Helping Others

By Andy Lipton

Leading the ‘Break

 

If you know the way to San Jose, you might have seen one of its famous high school basketball players,

 Haley Jones, played ball at her high school Archbishop Mitty. And if you know the way to Santa Cruz, a little over 30 miles away from San Jose, you might have spent some time in her parents’ home. 

 

Haley grew up in a home of a mother and father who were in the educational business and who inspired her. 

She calls her mom the most giving person she knows. And Haley’s mom was a basketball coach who often had her players and Haley’s high school teammates in their home and making sure they were ok. 

 

So growing up, Haley understood what it meant to help others. 

 

Haley, now a professional basketball player with the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA, became involved in as many activities as she could growing up.  

 

Jones was one of the best high school players - if not the best - in the country when she was a senior.  She was named The Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year, an award that honors a skilled player who also demonstrates commitment in the classroom as well as in communal activities.  A highly prestigious award.

 

One of the reasons Jones won the award was for her volunteering activities in her church, the Holy Cross Church.

 

And if you know the way to Palo Alto, you probably know that Haley became the face of women’s college basketball after her Stanford University women’s basketball team won the 2021 NCAA Championship and she was named the Most Outstanding Player in that year’s Final four.

 

At Stanford she engaged in a myriad of communal activities, including volunteering at a food bank, speaking at various local schools, and teaching a mathematics class at a elementary school.

 

It’s clear that Voice in Sport knows the way to Atlanta, as the organization reached out to Haley to be one of 12 WNBA players to participate in its mentorship program.

 

One of the goals of the mentoring program is to inspire young female athletes, ranging from middle school to college students, by giving them advice and education on a variety of topics including mental and physical health.

 

Jones has held two mentoring sessions on the topic of finding your identity outside of sports.  She is using her experiences to help give life lessons and has tried to create a safe space. None of the sessions are broadcast to people on the outside of the sessions. 

She believes in sharing her vulnerabilities so the young athletes can share their vulnerabilities and open up to her and the other athletes annd also believes that vulnerability can be a strength.  

 

Jones has a future topic in mind relating to the journeys of different people . Haley believes that the journeys of people do not have to be the same fro reach their goals.  

One example she gives is of WNBA players.  Some do well right away, and for others, it may take a number of years.

 

It’s easy to see and hear Haley Jones’ enthusiasm.  I expect many young female athletes will be seeing and hearing that as well in the future, and that they will benefit from her experiences and kindness.