Mercury bring back WNBA Finals guard after win vs Storm

As soon as the Phoenix Mercury brought back one WNBA Finals guard, Kiana Williams was released. Less than a week after that move, she is back with the team on a developmental contract. In correspondence, Shay Ciezki was waived.

This doesn’t come as too much of a surprise, considering how much head coach Nate Tibbetts values Williams. He’s spoken about her ability to be a head coach one day if she chooses to.

Also, she’s gained the respect of her teammates as a hard worker and someone who will bring the rookies and younger players under her wing.

Williams understands her role: space the floor, be tenacious on defense, and do what is asked of her. It sounds so simple, but it’s something she’s mastered since joining the Mercury midway through 2025.

At the beginning of the 2026 season, she was excited to be back and experience a full season with Phoenix. Although it was cut short, it felt like she could possibly return.

After all, Williams was a fan favorite, and her unselfishness was something that every team could use. Her knowledge of the system, experience, and knowing her role are essential for a Mercury team trying to get out of a rut.

With both Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper on the Mercury’s injury report, she wasn’t listed on that same list ahead of Friday’s game against the Portland Fire.

That familiarity can be advantageous for a team doing anything to stack wins. They hope to secure a second straight win against the most on fire team in the WNBA.

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