Depth move in the desert.
Phoenix Mercury Make Roster Move Before WNBA All-Star Break originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
After finishing the 2024 WNBA season at 19-21 and missing out on the playoffs, Phoenix entered 2025 with sweeping changes.
The franchise is playing its second season under head coach Nate Tibbetts and is doing so without two of their all-time greats: Diana Taurasi, who retired in February, and Brittney Griner, who signed as a free agent with Atlanta on February 1.
The Mercury wasted little time reshaping their core, acquiring All-Stars Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally via trade, signing Sami Whitcomb and DePaul star Alexa Held before the season and recently bringing back two-time WNBA champion DeWanna Bonner.
All of this has contributed to a strong 15-6 record, good enough for second in the league behind only the Minnesota Lynx
On Tuesday, Phoenix made another move to strengthen its title hopes, signing guard Kiana Williams to a seven day contract.
The Phoenix Mercury sign Kiana Williams to a 7-day contract. pic.twitter.com/aEOitSnmLH
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) July 15, 2025
Williams played four seasons at Stanford (2017-2021), averaging 13.4 points, 3.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds and shooting 37.0% from 3-point range for her career.
She helped lead the Cardinal to the 2021 NCAA championship and earned USBWA second‑team All‑America, AP third‑team All‑America, WBCA All‑America honors, was named Pac‑12 Tournament MOP and collected three All‑Pac‑12 nods.
Selected 18th overall by the Seattle Storm in the 2021 WNBA Draft, Williams has spent time with Seattle and the Connecticut Sun, plus stints overseas.
She signed a contract with Phoenix on June 26 after playing in China and now has inked another seven-day deal, providing the Mercury with a strong (and familiar) rotation piece heading into the WNBA All-Star break.
Williams appeared in four Mercury games prior to this signing, averaging 5.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 10.5 minutes per contest.
Over that time, she shot 60.0% from the field and 42.9% from three, including a 17-point performance in just 21 minutes during Phoenix's 30-point win over the Dallas Wings on July 7.
Related: Lexie Hull Shares Honest Take on Playing Without Caitlin Clark
Related: New DeWanna Bonner Update Emerges After Release From Indiana Fever
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
