Indiana University Athletics
Two Former Hoosiers On WNBA Opening Night Rosters
5/8/2026 10:25:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Two former Indiana women's basketball players are on opening night rosters for the 30th season of the Women's National Basketball Association in Mackenzie Holmes (Seattle Storm) and Shay Ciezki (Phoenix Mercury).
Holmes begins her second year in Seattle after a successful offseason in the WNBL with the Geelong Venom. The Gorham, Maine naïve averaged 21.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks en route to a All-WNBL first team honor. Indiana's all-time leading scorer appeared in 10 games for the Storm in her rookie season in 2025 after being re-signed to the team in mid-August. Holmes was selected by the organization as the 26th pick in the 2024 draft following her decorated career as a Hoosier (2019-24) where she finished as an eight-time All-American. The Storm will open the season on Friday (May 8) at home against the Golden State Valkyries on Ion at 10 p.m. ET.
Ciezki joins the Phoenix roster as one of its two developmental players, a roster designation introduced in 2026 that allows teams to carry up to two additional young players (0-3 years of service) beyond the standard 12-player roster. Signing as an undrafted free agent with the organization, Ciezki can appear in up to 12 games in the 2026 season. Her prolific college career was capped in March as she averaged 22.8 points per game and scored 708 points while knocking down 79 3-pointers She finished second in a single season in school history while setting the school record for points per game in a single season. She is the second player in NCAA Division I women's basketball to average a 50/40/90 while scoring 20+ or more (Eva Hodges, William & Mary 2019). The Buffalo, N.Y. native shot 52.6 percent from the floor, 44.6 percent from the 3-point line and 90.8 percent at the free throw line. The Mercury being the 2026 season on Saturday (May 9) at the Las Vegas Aces on ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET.
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Holmes begins her second year in Seattle after a successful offseason in the WNBL with the Geelong Venom. The Gorham, Maine naïve averaged 21.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks en route to a All-WNBL first team honor. Indiana's all-time leading scorer appeared in 10 games for the Storm in her rookie season in 2025 after being re-signed to the team in mid-August. Holmes was selected by the organization as the 26th pick in the 2024 draft following her decorated career as a Hoosier (2019-24) where she finished as an eight-time All-American. The Storm will open the season on Friday (May 8) at home against the Golden State Valkyries on Ion at 10 p.m. ET.
Ciezki joins the Phoenix roster as one of its two developmental players, a roster designation introduced in 2026 that allows teams to carry up to two additional young players (0-3 years of service) beyond the standard 12-player roster. Signing as an undrafted free agent with the organization, Ciezki can appear in up to 12 games in the 2026 season. Her prolific college career was capped in March as she averaged 22.8 points per game and scored 708 points while knocking down 79 3-pointers She finished second in a single season in school history while setting the school record for points per game in a single season. She is the second player in NCAA Division I women's basketball to average a 50/40/90 while scoring 20+ or more (Eva Hodges, William & Mary 2019). The Buffalo, N.Y. native shot 52.6 percent from the floor, 44.6 percent from the 3-point line and 90.8 percent at the free throw line. The Mercury being the 2026 season on Saturday (May 9) at the Las Vegas Aces on ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Follow Indiana Women's Basketball on Facebook, X and Instagram.
#NeverDaunted
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