Kiana Williams

Kiana Williams (born April 9, 1999) is an American basketball player. She was drafted by the Storm with the 18th pick in the 2021 WNBA draft after playing college basketball at Stanford.[1]

Kiana Williams
Personal information
Born (1999-04-09) April 9, 1999
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Listed weight135 lb (61 kg)
Career information
High schoolKaren Wagner
(San Antonio, Texas)
CollegeStanford (2017–2021)
WNBA draft2021: 2nd round, 18th overall pick
Selected by the Seattle Storm
Playing career2021–present
PositionPoint guard / shooting guard
Number4
Career history
2021-2022Seattle Storm
2022Connecticut Sun
Career highlights and awards
Stats at WNBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing  United States
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place2019 LimaTeam

College career

Senior season

In her senior season, Williams was named an All-American by the United States Basketball Writers Association, Associated Press, and Women's Basketball Coaches Association.[2][3] In the 2021 Pac-12 Conference women's basketball tournament, she put up 26 points in the championship match and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.[4]

With the 2021 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament being held in her hometown San Antonio, Williams helped lead the Cardinal to their first national championship since 1992 and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player in the Alamo Region.[5] After winning the national championship, Williams and her Stanford teammates donated the ping-pong table the university bought for them in the tournament bubble to the Eastside Boys and Girls Club, where the San Antonio native Williams had spent time growing up.[6]

Williams declared for the WNBA draft at the end of the season, finishing her collegiate career at the program's career 3-point leader and did not miss a game, starting 128 consecutive games over her career.[7][8]

Professional career

Seattle Storm (2021)

Williams was drafted by the Seattle Storm in the second round of the 2021 WNBA draft with the 18th overall pick.[1] Considered a longshot to make the Storm roster with one of the deepest backcourts in the WNBA, Williams made the final roster for the opening game of the 2021 season.[9][10] She was released from the Seattle Storm roster on June 28, 2021. On October 25, 2021 she signed to play overseas with the Adelaide Lightning.[11]

Phoenix Mercury

On March 1, 2022, Williams signed a training camp contract with the Phoenix Mercury prior to the 2022 WNBA season.[12] She was ultimately released at the end of training camp and did not make the roster.

Seattle Storm (2022)

Williams signed a hardship contract with the Storm on May 27, 2022, and played 3 games with the Storm before being released from her hardship.

Connecticut Sun

On July 27, 2022, Williams signed a 7-Day Contract with the Connecticut Sun.[13]

National team career

Williams played for the United States women's national basketball team at the 2019 Pan American Games, where they earned a silver medal after placing second.[14][15]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game  FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold  Career best ° League leader

WNBA
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2021 Seattle 1003.5.143.1671.0000.40.20.10.00.20.4
2022 Seattle 309.0.250.250.0000.71.70.00.00.71.7
2022 Connecticut 103.0.000.000.0000.00.00.00.00.00.0
Career 2 years, 2 teams 1404.6.200.2001.0000.40.50.10.00.30.6

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2017–18 Stanford 352625.7.414.384.8181.71.90.90.11.110.4
2018–19 Stanford 363634.5.422.367.7932.84.71.20.12.414.3
2019–20 Stanford 333334.2.416.347.8403.23.81.10.02.115.0
2020–21 Stanford 333332.3.410.383.8952.03.11.30.01.514.0
Career 13712831.6.416.370.8332.43.41.10.11.813.4

Personal life

Williams is the daughter of LaChelle and Michael Williams and has three older brothers.[16] During Stanford's tournament run in 2021, Williams' father, a former barbecue joint owner, delivered homemade meals to the team's hotel.[17]

References
  1. "2021 WNBA Draft: Seattle Storm draft Stanford G Kiana Williams". NBC Sports Northwest. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  2. "McDonald and Williams selected as WBCA All-Americans". Pac-12 Conference. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  3. "Pac-12 women's basketball standouts honored as USBWA All-Americans". Pac-12 Conference. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  4. "Kiana Williams helps Stanford stomp UCLA, win Pac-12 Tournament". Santa Cruz Sentinel. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  5. Stanford Women's Basketball [@StanfordWBB] (March 31, 2021). "he Alamo Region Most Outstanding Player... 𝐊𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐀 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐌𝐒 #GoStanford" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  6. "San Antonio Proud: National Champion Kiana Williams gives back". FOX San Antonio. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  7. "Kiana Williams becomes 27th Cardinal drafted to play in the WNBA". Stanford University. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  8. "Stanford point guard Kiana Williams declares for WNBA draft". ESPN. 6 April 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  9. "Stanford standout Kiana Williams is a longshot to make the Storm's roster. But she's excited for the chance to prove she belongs". Seattle Times. April 28, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  10. "SEATTLE SETS ROSTER FOR SATURDAY'S HOME OPENER". Seattle Storm. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  11. "KIANA SHOOTING STORM READY TO HIT ADELAIDE". WNBL Basketball. October 25, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  12. Ortiz, Jenna. "Local product Kristine Anigwe among four added to Phoenix Mercury training camp roster". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  13. "Connecticut Signs Kiana Williams". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  14. "USA women open Pan Am basketball tournament with a victory". Palo Alto Online. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  15. "Senior Spotlight: Kiana Williams". The Stanford Daily. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  16. "Hear that? It's Kiana Williams' family, giving Stanford a home-court advantage this NCAA Tournament". The Athletic. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  17. "Joyful play from Stanford's Kiana Williams could help Cardinal win women's hoops title". USA Today. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
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