The Phoenix Mercury have signed Shay Ciezki to a developmental contract, the team announced on Monday. A spot opened up after Kiana Williams, who was previously one of two Mercury developmental players, signed with the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday.
Ciezki went undrafted in 2026 after a collegiate career that included two years at Penn State and two years at Indiana. She averaged 22.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in her senior season, being named First-Team All-Big Ten. She shot 52.6% from the field, 44.6% from three, and 90.8% from the line last year.
Williams was averaging 4.8 points per game as a developmental player for the Mercury, and now gets a full-time spot with the Sparks. She’s a far more experienced player than Ciezki, having been drafted in 2021.
Phoenix’s other developmental player is rookie Marta Suarez. Suarez, who was drafted 16th overall by the Seattle Storm, signed a developmental contract with the Mercury at the season’s start, and has since appeared in 2 games.
Most WNBA teams have utilized their developmental spots
Players signed to a developmental contract can appear in up to 12 games and make $750 per week. Across the league, 21 of 30 potential developmental spots have been filled.
The Las Vegas Aces and Toronto Tempo, meanwhile, have both of their developmental spots open.
