STWF Sports | ARLINGTON, Texas | June 21, 2026 — The Dallas Wings are bringing back a familiar face as they continue to build depth around their 2026 roster.
The team announced Sunday that it has signed guard/forward Haley Jones to a Developmental Player contract, giving the Wings another versatile option with WNBA experience and previous familiarity with the organization.
Jones spent the 2025 season with Dallas after joining the club on a hardship contract in June. She later signed a rest-of-season deal on July 9 and became a meaningful part of the Wings’ rotation during the back half of the campaign. In 24 games with Dallas, including 16 starts, Jones averaged career highs of 8.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 0.8 steals per game.
Her return gives Dallas a player who already understands the team’s environment and has shown she can contribute in multiple roles. At 6-foot-1, Jones brings size on the perimeter, playmaking ability and positional flexibility. She can handle the ball, attack the paint, rebound from the wing and defend multiple spots, making her a useful depth piece for a Wings team navigating the long WNBA season.
Jones was selected by the Portland Fire in April’s Expansion Draft after her strong 2025 stint in Dallas. She appeared in five games for Portland this season, averaging 5.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists before being waived on May 21. Current Wings guard Sug Sutton was also waived by Portland on the same day and later joined Dallas.
For the Wings, Jones’ signing adds another layer to a roster that has already dealt with injuries and availability changes throughout the season. The Developmental Player contract gives Dallas flexibility while allowing Jones to remain connected to the team and potentially be activated when needed.
Jones entered the WNBA with high expectations after a standout college career at Stanford. She was selected sixth overall by the Atlanta Dream in the 2023 WNBA Draft and spent her first two professional seasons in Atlanta before moving to Dallas in 2025. Across 113 career WNBA games, including 46 starts, Jones has averaged 4.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists.
Her most productive professional stretch came last season with the Wings, where she was asked to take on a larger role and responded with steady production. Dallas used her in different lineup combinations, and her ability to contribute without needing the offense built around her became one of her strengths.
The Wings now have two players signed to Developmental Player contracts, with guard Costanza Verona also occupying one of the team’s developmental spots.
The Developmental Player system is new for the 2026 season and gives teams two additional roster spots outside the standard roster limit. The goal is to provide more opportunities for eligible early-career players and players who had limited minutes in the previous season.
Each Developmental Player may be activated for up to 12 games during the regular season. Teams are limited to 24 total developmental player activations across the year. Players under these contracts receive a weekly stipend while under contract and additional compensation for each game in which they are activated.
For Dallas, the move is both practical and strategic. Jones offers proven WNBA experience, familiarity with the Wings’ system and the kind of versatility that can help during a demanding season.
For Jones, it is a chance to continue developing with an organization where she has already found success.
As the Wings push deeper into the 2026 campaign, her return gives Dallas another trusted option and adds competition, flexibility and depth to the roster.
