Skip to main content
NC State

Madison Hayes signs training camp contract with Connecticut Sun

image_6483441 (3)by: Noah Fleischman04/21/25fleischman_noah
Madison Hayes (1)
Feb 15, 2024; South Bend, Indiana, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Madison Hayes (21) reacts after a three point basket in the second half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Purcell Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Although she didn’t hear her name called during the WNBA Draft, former NC State guard Madison Hayes will begin her professional career battling for a spot in the league.

Hayes signed a training camp contract with the Connecticut Sun, the team announced Monday afternoon. She will team up with former Pack teammate Saniya Rivers, who was the eighth overall pick by the Sun in last week’s draft to become the highest-drafted player in NC State program history in the process.

The 6-foot wing was an integral part of NC State’s success over the past four seasons, including a pair of deep NCAA Tournament runs with a trip to the 2023 Final Four in Cleveland. Hayes was consistently all over the court during her tenure in Raleigh, including as a knockdown 3-point shooter, a capable rebounder and a stout defender.

Hayes averaged a career-best 10.9 points with 7.1 rebounds on 45.6 percent shooting this past season. He also posted a career-high 41.3 percent shooting from 3-point distance, including a career-best five made triples in the Wolfpack’s 83-49 win over Michigan State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament inside Reynolds Coliseum.

The Chattanooga, Tenn., native started 98 games during her NC State career, including 73 straight to lead the team. She also finished her collegiate career with 105 straight appearances as Hayes was not only an effective player on the court, but she maintained her health throughout most of her collegiate career.

Hayes left the Wolfpack as one of the most-prolific 3-point shooters in program history with a 39.4 percent clip, the third-best ever. She also logged the 13th-most triples (150), the 15th-most rebounds (707) in program history, and was the school’s 40th-ever 1,000-point scorer (1,050 points).

Now, Hayes will have to fight to earn a spot on the Sun’s roster during its training camp. The team begins its two-game preseason slate at the Seattle Storm on May 4 before playing at the New York Liberty on May 9. The WNBA regular season begins May 16 and the Sun opens its 2025 campaign against the Washington Mystics on May 18.

You may also like