Phoenix Mercury sign former Dream guard after injuries to star players

Haley Jones joins the Mercury on a hardship contract while Alyssa Thomas remains sidelined.

The Phoenix Mercury have signed Haley Jones to a hardship contract, the team announced on Sunday.

Jones, originally selected sixth overall in the 2023 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream, appeared in all 40 games for the Dream last season, averaging 3.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 17.8 minutes. She was waived in training camp this season.

Jones is a defensive specialist who had a standout career at Stanford, helping the team win the national championship in 2001, and averaging 13 points and 7.5 rebounds in her collegiate career.

The Phoenix Mercury are off to a hot start despite mounting injuries

The Mercury have been one of the early surprise teams of the WNBA season. They are 5-2 to start the season despite several injuries to key players; Kahleah Copper underwent arthroscopic knee surgery at the beginning of the season, while Alyssa Thomas is currently sidelined with a calf injury.

A massive part of the Mercury’s success so far this season has been the production of the team’s four undrafted rookies; Monique Akoa Makani, Kathryn Westbeld, Lexi Held, and Kitija Laksa. Makani is averaging 9.7 points and 2.9 assists per game, Westbeld is averaging 7.9 points and 3.9 rebounds, and Held is averaging 5.7 points and 1.6 steals. Laksa is averaging 8.7 points and 1.5 assists per game.

Jones made her Mercury debut on Sunday, tallying 2 points and an assist in 4 minutes as Phoenix defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 85-80.