WNBA: Haley Jones, Celeste Taylor shine in larger roles in WNBL

Throughout the 2024-25 WNBL season, there hasn’t been much urgency to cover Haley Jones and the Geelong United. The latter is understandable, as the team is in the bottom three of the league, but the former deserves some attention—because Haley Jones has been balling for the WNBL newcomers.

Jones is among the young stars with WNBA promise who are worthy of appreciation for the more-than-solid seasons they have put together for some not-so-great WNBL teams.

Haley Jones shines like Stanford days

Jones has been the Geelong United’s best player. In the 2024 WNBA season, her second year in the league with the Atlanta Dream, she saw more starts and minutes than during her rookie campaign. But as her team’s leader in the WNBL, she’s averaging numbers similar to her Stanford days, with 14.4 points, 6.4 boards and 3.1 assists.

She has scored 20 points or more three times this season, grabbed 12 or more rebounds twice and dished out seven or more assists twice as well. Clearly, she’s been holding her own in her first season playing outside the US, and it remains to be seen if she’s able to carry the momentum into the W later this year.

Swain, Taylor have great games as Flames go 0-2

The Sydney Flames played two games in Round 13, one against the Townsville Fire and the next against the Perth Lynx. They lost both, but the team’s present and (hopefully) future WNBA players were cooking.

Shaneice Swain, who is looking to attend the Los Angeles Sparks training camp this year, exploded for 40 points against the Fire in the 89-75 loss. 21 of those points came from 3s. Seven to be exact. With the season she’s having, the Sparks would make a serious mistake if they do not at least not give her a shot.

Celeste Taylor played her best game so far for the Flames, scoring 18 points, grabbing five boards and dishing out five dimes against the Lynx in the 105-83 loss. It’s good to see her find some stability Down Under, especially considering her season in the W, with four contracts and three teams.

League standings

1. Bendigo Spirit (16-2)

2. Perth Lynx (14-4)

3. Townsville Fire (12-5)

4. Sydney Flames (6-11)

5. Canberra Capitals (6-11)

6. Geelong United (6-11)

7. Adelaide Lightning (5-12)

8. Southside Flyers (4-13)