Kamiah Smalls signs training camp contract with the Connecticut Sun

Subscribe to make sure this vital work, creating a pipeline of young, diverse media professionals to write, edit and photograph the great game, continues, and grows. Paid subscriptions include some exclusive content, but the reason for subscriptions is a simple one: making sure our writers and editors creating 24/7/365 women’s basketball coverage get paid to do it.

On Feb. 1, the Connecticut Sun announced the team signed Kamiah Smalls to a training camp contract. 

Smalls was drafted by the Indiana Fever in the third round of the 2020 WNBA Draft on April 17 and was released on May 19. She signed another contract with the Fever and made her season debut on Aug. 31 after it was announced Erica Wheeler would not be joining the team. 

In her debut, Smalls posted 13 points, four rebounds, and two assists. She also made appearances in each of the team’s final six games.

During her time at James Madison, Smalls proved she could score, averaging 18.6 points per game in her senior season and 14.5 points per game across her four-year career. In her junior and senior seasons, Smalls made 38.0 percent of her three-point attempts. Connecticut’s three-point attack struggled at times last season and Smalls could provide more consistent three-point shooting. 

Smalls is currently averaging 18.1 points, 5.5, rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game for USE Scotti Rosa Empoli, a team in the Serie A1 Women’s league.

General manager and head coach Curt Miller has had his eyes on Smalls for some time.

“Kamiah was a player we had potentially targeted to take in the second round of the 2020 WNBA draft. She is a talented shooter and immediately made shots for Indiana during the bubble season. We are excited to have her in our camp,” Miller stated in a team-issued statement. 

Smalls would also provide an affordable guard option for the Sun, who recently re-signed Jasmine Thomas and Brionna Jones. While the contract details have not been released, Briann January, Jonquel Jones, DeWanna Bonner, and Kaila Charles already make up 44% of the team’s cap space. 

As free agency signings continue for the Sun, an affordable option may be necessary for the team to fill out the roster with talent at a price the team can afford.