INDIANAPOLIS — Shay Ciezki was training in Buffalo when she got the call Sunday. Around 1 a.m. Monday she was checking into the team hotel in Indianapolis and a few hours later, the record-setting IU women’s basketball guard received word that the Phoenix Mercury planned to activate her for that night’s game against the Indiana Fever.
Ciezki went through shootaround Monday morning, took part in pregame warmups and with two minutes left in regulation, the 5-foot-7 guard made her WNBA debut. She guarded fellow Big Ten legend Caitlin Clark — “It was just like college,” she laughed — and picked up her first foul on one end of the floor, then scored her first basket as a pro on the other.
“It was definitely a crazy turn of events,” Ciezki said following the Mercury’s 111-109 win over the Fever on Wednesday (she was inactive). “But I think this is probably the best road trip to get put back on just because I’m in Indiana now. I got to see the (IU women’s basketball) team and coaches yesterday for a little bit, now we’re going to Toronto and my family’s up there.”
Ciezki signed with the Mercury on a developmental contract Monday, marking the rookie’s third stint in the desert in this rookie year.
She initially signed with them as an undrafted free agent in April, was waived in early May following a very good preseason run, then selected for one of the organization’s two developmental spots a few days later.
Ciezki stuck with the team until June 4, when she was waived once more so the team could acquire Kiana Williams.
When the Los Angeles Sparks signed Williams to an offer sheet on June 19, the Mercury circled back with Ciezki, inking her to her current developmental contract.
“She’s a little spark plug. She comes to work every day,” Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said. “Our veterans really enjoy having her around. She’s got the ability to make a shot, and can play both with and without the ball. … She did such a good job in camp, we thought it’d be great to bring her back.”
Ciezki entered the professional ranks on the heels of a prolific senior season. A first team All-Big Ten honoree, she posted a 53/45/91 with a school-record scoring average of 22.8 points, becoming just the second NCAA Division I women’s basketball player all-time to record a 50/40/90 while scoring at least 20 points per game.
Ciezki totaled 10 points and seven steals in 16 minutes played during the preseason.
Ciezki heaped praise on her veteran teammates and coaching staff for easing her transition from college to the pros, crediting them with giving her “a lot of grace,” especially during training camp when rookies have to get up to speed in a very short amount of time.
“The transition wasn’t too bad, honestly,” Ciezki continued. “I expected it to be a little harder in terms of like, ‘Alright, it’s the pros.’ But I think my work ethic and what I did leading up to that point has helped me make the jump.”
As for how she spent her time between developmental contracts, Ciezki kept herself in a positive headspace as she continued training, her focus on being grateful to even have the opportunity in the first place.
“Fortunately, they called me back,” she smiled.
When Ciezki received the call Monday morning letting her know the team planned to activate her, she texted her parents letting them know she might be activated.
And that’s all she gave them until they turned on the TV and saw their daughter, on national television, dressed and on the bench.
“After the game, they texted me like, ‘You didn’t even call us! What are you doing? We wanted to record the game,'” Ciezki laughed. “I’m like, ‘Alright, guys. I only played a couple minutes. Relax.’ But yeah, they were so supportive. I think my parents were even crying a little bit. I’m like, ‘Alright, everyone needs to calm down.'”
As for that moment she stepped on the floor for her WNBA debut — and drilled her first field goal attempt — a 3-pointer, appropriately — Ciezki joked that she “blacked out a little bit.”
“It was such a surreal moment,” she said. “And then once you really get your feet going, it’s like, all right, here we go. (Valeriane Ayayi) got the seal and hit it up to me, we were able to get some separation and I knocked on 3, so that’s cool.”
Next up for the Mercury: A Saturday road trip to Toronto, a 60-90-minute drive from Buffalo for Ciezki’s family.
“It’s worked out perfectly,” she beamed. “It’s going to be really cool to see all my people there.”
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Former IU star makes WNBA debut, guarding Caitlin Clark, vs Indiana Fever after chaotic 24 hours
Reporting by Brian Haenchen, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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By Brian Haenchen, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
