¿WILL SHAY CIEZKI BECOME INDIANA’S NEXT WNBA DRAFT PICK?

WRITTEN + EDITED BY JORDYN BONTRAGER

In the Spring of 2024, IUWBB icon Mackenzie Holmes became the 6th player in program history to hear her name called in the WNBA draft. While the Storm selecting Holmes with pick #26 was by no means surprising, her alum’s short list of historical draftees is a bit startling. Given Indiana’s legacy of basketball excellence, one would assume there would be more Hoosier representation across the assocation.

After Holmes and Grace Berger (#7 pick in 2023) sparked a streak of consecutive drafts featuring IU friendlies, some wondered if Sydney Parrish and/or Chloe Moore-McNeil would sustain the trend. Unfortunately, neither prospect’s name was announced over the intercom at this year’s annual induction ceremony.

Looking ahead down the road, newcomer Maya Makalusky stands out as the active team’s most prolific professional prospect. However, the BIRTHDAY GIRL will not be draft eligible for a few years. There is no telling what the future holds for her, but she is the program’s all-time highest-ranked recruit who arrives in B-Town ripe with star potential.

While Makalusky’s time will have to wait and bonafide W prospect Yarden Garzon is now at Maryland, the time is now for senior-to-be Shay Ciezki.

Ciezki might not be quite as high on boards as her former court companion Garzon, but it is refreshing to at least see her name noted in mock drafts. Garzon’s size alone breeds more intrigue among scouts, as the Israelian queen boasts one of the more dynamic x versatile skillsets in entire country. Yardy always had a tendency for masking her inner dog, but Ciezki was never shy about wearing her bark right out in the open on her sleeve for the world to see. Her New York roots are perfectly incapsulated by her outspoken x gritty nature, and what she lacks in stature (5’7”) she more than makes up for in spirit.

Teri Moren has once again reconstructed a strong squad on paper. But if this team is going to make any semblance of noise in the season to come, Shay Ciezki is going to have to make an enormous leap as she shifts into the alpha role. If that theoretical leap happens to come to fruition, the Indiana Hoosiers will need their dancing shoes yet again come March. And beyond that, Ciezki will need her stylist’s best work come April.

Keep going, Shay!

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