Great Commitment: Shay Ciezki Commits to Kentucky Wildcats Women’s Basketball — A Defining Move for the Future
In a move that sent shockwaves through the world of women’s college basketball, Shay Ciezki stood at the center of Joe Craft Center, proudly holding a blue and white jersey emblazoned with the iconic Kentucky “K”. Cameras flashed, reporters leaned in, and fans erupted across social media: the former Penn State phenom had committed to the Kentucky Wildcats.
It was more than a transfer—it was a statement.
Ciezki, a dynamic 5’7″ guard from Buffalo, New York, had already made her mark in the Big Ten. A scoring machine with a sniper’s range, she averaged over 11 points per game in her sophomore season while maintaining a 40% clip from beyond the arc. But she wanted more—more competition, more exposure, more growth. And when Kentucky came calling with a bold vision and a rising SEC program under new leadership, she listened.
Coach Kara Lawson had called the moment “program-defining” in the press conference that followed. “Shay brings grit, IQ, and a leadership style that transforms teams. This isn’t just a player joining our roster—this is a culture shift.”
Behind closed doors, the recruitment had been as intense as any buzzer-beater. Kentucky boosters whispered of NIL opportunities, a fast-paced system built for guards, and a legacy in the making. But for Shay, it wasn’t about glitz. It was about challenge. “I want to play the best and beat the best,” she told ESPNW. “Kentucky is building something special, and I want to lead it.”
The Wildcats, fresh off a rebuilding year, now had a core guard who could shift the SEC landscape. Already, speculation swirled about a backcourt pairing between Ciezki and rising freshman phenom Layla Morgan—speed, shooting, and savvy in one package. Practices were rumored to be electric, with Shay taking command, directing plays with surgical precision and letting fly three-pointers that barely touched net.
Fans packed Memorial Coliseum during summer open runs just to catch a glimpse. One assistant coach, on condition of anonymity, said, “She talks like a vet and plays like a pro. You don’t coach that—she is that.”
And yet, behind the swagger and sharp shooting, Ciezki remained grounded. She stayed late in the gym, mentoring underclassmen, studying game film like a chess master. Her goal? A deep SEC tournament run and a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight—something Kentucky hadn’t tasted in over a decade.
By November, sports media dubbed the Wildcats “the dark horse of the SEC.” Kentucky blue was suddenly back in fashion—and Shay Ciezki was its fearless face.
One commitment. A defining move. And the future of Kentucky women’s basketball forever altered.
