The phone call that saved Lightning star's dream

At the conclusion of the 2026 WNBA Draft, Shay Ciezki was left unselected and under the impression that her dream of making it to the League was over.

However, Ciezki’s fortunes changed with a single phone call after the Draft from the Phoenix Mercury.

“Going undrafted, I didn’t think it would happen initially,” Ciezki said on The Loop, presented by Blackmorss.

“I was devastated after the Draft. I remember crying to my parents; I thought everything was over.

“Phoenix literally called me two minutes after the Draft ended and [said], ‘We want you here tomorrow’.

“Looking back, I’m so glad that’s the way it happened.

“In the moment, it didn’t feel good, but it definitely set me up.”

Joining the Adelaide Lightning for the WNBL27 Season, after a successful first stint in the WNBA, Ciezki is ready to mount a championship challenge with her new teammates.

“Obviously we want to win the whole thing,” Ciezki added

“That’s just the mindset of our organisation… that’s what Tess [Madgen] has been preaching, and as a team, I can already feel it.

“I’ve only been around the girls for [a few] days, but you can just feel that they want it this year.

“We’ve got high goals, [and] high expectations, so it’s going to be an exciting season for us.”

Ciezki’s Lightning will open their WNBL Season against the Sydney Flames on Sunday, October 18 from 1pm AEDT, live on 9Now and ESPN via Disney+.

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