Winter Haven's Tiffany Hayes Shines in WNBA Semifinals

Winter Haven has a player in the WNBA semifinals, and she's making it count.

Tiffany Hayes, the Winter Haven native now with the Golden State Valkyries, came off the bench in Sunday's Game 1 semifinal win over the Las Vegas Aces — 11 minutes, 3 points, and a plus-5 that doesn't show up in the highlight reel but wins playoff games.

There's something special about watching a hometown kid on the biggest stage in women's basketball. Every minute Hayes plays is a minute Winter Haven is represented in a national semifinal, and the whole town knows her name.

The Valkyries are the new kids in the league, and the Aces are the standard. Nobody's handing Golden State anything — which makes every contribution from the bench that much bigger.

Winter Haven, your girl is in the semifinals. Tune in.

Playoff basketball is about who steps up when it matters. Hayes stepped up. Winter Haven should be proud — and loud.