Kitija Laksa signs new contract with Italian club Schio

Latvian basketball player Kitija Laksa will continue her career in Italy, having signed a new two-year contract with Serie A club Famila Schio. This will be her fourth season overall with the team and her third consecutive one.

Laksa has won three Italian league titles with Schio. In the 2021/22 season, she earned three MVP awards – in the Serie A finals, the Italian Cup, and the Italian Super Cup. Before heading to North America, she won another league title with Famila and was named Finals MVP.

Last season, Laksa made her WNBA debut with the Phoenix Mercury. In 33 games, she averaged 19 minutes, 5.9 points, and 1.2 rebounds, shooting 31.7% from three-point range. She became a WNBA vice-champion with the Mercury.

In the 2026 WNBA expansion draft, Laksa was selected by the Toronto Tempo, who acquired her rights from the Mercury. She signed a training camp contract but was released the day before the season started.

Returning to Europe, Laksa played 12 FIBA EuroLeague games for Schio, averaging 26 minutes, 8 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.

During her career, Laksa also won a EuroLeague title with Fenerbahce Istanbul and played for TTT Riga, Kayseri in Turkey, and Virtus Bologna in Italy. In college, she played for the University of South Florida and was inducted into its athletics hall of fame.