PHOENIX — When Shay Ciezki stepped onto the court for her first WNBA preseason, she quickly realized that the path to success isn't always measured in points or assists. The Phoenix Mercury rookie guard, who joined the team on a training camp contract after finishing her collegiate career at Indiana, discovered that the most valuable contributions often don't show up in any box score.

As an undrafted rookie, Ciezki faced an uphill battle competing for a roster spot on a Mercury squad stacked with veterans like Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper. While she was waived during preseason cuts, her determination and hustle didn't go unnoticed. The Mercury rewarded her with one of their two developmental contracts — a new addition under the league's latest CBA that allows teams to invest in and nurture young talent.

"My first reaction, I definitely had some tears," Ciezki shared. "I'm full of gratitude."

This new contract structure gives franchises more flexibility to develop players like Ciezki without the pressure of immediate roster decisions. For the rookie, it's a chance to grow in a stable environment and focus on what truly matters.

"I think the biggest lesson is to not focus so much on the basketball part of it, but the intangibles," Ciezki said. "What you're willing to do for the team and how big of an impact that is, even if it's really small."

Learning from seasoned stars like Thomas and Copper, Ciezki has embraced the importance of communication, effort, and energy. "Just talking on defense, being where you need to be, being the energy player. The little stuff," she explained. "We have the ATs. We have the Kahs. We have our players who can score. So it's like, what can I do to help them?"

It's a mindset that any athlete — whether on the court or in the gym — can apply. Sometimes, the biggest impact comes from the smallest actions.