PHOENIX- Indiana Fever guard Shey Peddy is all the time recognized for staying within the second when her identify will get referred to as up.
Peddy was drafted twenty third total by the Chicago Sky within the 2012 WNBA Draft out of Temple and first appeared within the league for the Washington Mystics in 2019.
Recognized for making one of the memorable performs in WNBA Playoff historical past in 2020 for the Phoenix Mercury, Peddy was a part of the franchise for 4 seasons and was one of many key contributors to the workforce’s WNBA Finals run in 2021. She performed alongside franchise legends comparable to Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner beneath head coach Sandy Brondello, who’s now with the New York Liberty.
what a play from Shey Peddy 👀 https://t.co/WrZ625D4gk pic.twitter.com/6Qdd27aspk
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 22, 2025
Simply three years in the past, Peddy tore her proper Achilles tendon within the first spherical of the 2022 WNBA Playoffs, throughout which the Phoenix Mercury have been shorthanded all yr and have been swept by the Las Vegas Aces, the eventual WNBA Champion.
Lower than 9 months later, she made a miraculous return in June 2023 and appeared in 18 video games that season for the Mercury, who went 9-31 and missed the playoffs.
In 2024, Peddy signed a coaching camp contract with the Connecticut Solar and was waived after camp, and didn’t play in a sport that season. Earlier this yr, she had a quick stint with the Los Angeles Sparks, by which she appeared in six video games on a hardship contract earlier than being waived in June.
Now, as a member of the Indiana Fever, Peddy stays ready within the second whereas the workforce copes with 5 season-ending accidents and 4 gamers on hardship contracts. In her first two video games as a member of the workforce, she scored a mixed 26 factors and made six three-pointers.
Ballislife sat down with Peddy to speak about what she has realized over the previous few years and what recommendation she has for gamers who’re on hardship contracts.
Ballislife: What have you ever mirrored on from the previous three years while you tore your Achilles and the place you might be proper now?
Peddy: “It was loads of rehab, loads of going via a psychological means of making an attempt to remain sturdy. It was actually robust. I felt like I firmly discovered myself once more, perhaps the final yr, perhaps that it was a troublesome transition to get again into the movement of the sport and staying wholesome. However I’m right here now, feeling good. I’m completely happy to be with Indiana, and I’m completely happy to be again right here within the X-Issue.”
Ballislife: You made a 3-pointer in opposition to the Washington Mystics, the workforce that drafted you, within the 2020 WNBA Playoffs. How do you look again at this second, and the way do you look to encourage gamers who need to make an influence as gamers who’re on hardship contracts?
Peddy: “It’s loopy that it’s been 5 years already, however for anyone on the market, I do know it’s sort of cliche at this level, however keep prepared. That’s the one recommendation I can provide individuals. You by no means know when your time’s gonna come.
“There was instances that I wished to stop. I didn’t assume I’d get one other shot within the WNBA, particularly this season, we’re not getting invited to coaching camp. However one thing in me simply mentioned, ‘Hold going. Hold going.’ Should you really love the sport and have a ardour for it, you’re gonna go till you’re feeling like inside you’re performed, and I don’t really feel like I’m performed taking part in but. So keep prepared.”
Ballislife: Now you might be with the Indiana Fever, how comfy are you feeling in Stephanie White’s system thus far?
Peddy: “I’m feeling good. I’m nonetheless getting adjusted, however I’m studying daily. The ladies (and) coaches have been very useful. For me, I have to get out of my head and cease pondering and simply play my sport like I’m right here for a cause. Perhaps if my photographs are falling or not falling, I can carry extra to the sport. I would like to point out that hopefully I can study right this moment.”
Ballislife: You, Odyssey Sims, and Aerial Powers joined the Fever via hardship contracts with season-ending accidents of Colson, Cunningham, and McDonald, and the uncertainty of whether or not Clark would return [she won’t]. What have you ever realized thus far?
Peddy: “That any second your quantity may be referred to as, life is definitely quick. It harm us once they went down, however this Fever workforce has been tremendous resilient all yr. You already know, the gamers which might be right here from the start, they stayed motivated, very encouraging, they usually welcomed all three of us to return in and simply play our video games. And thus far, it’s been a simple transition.”
Ballislife: Because the Indiana Fever are one of many groups competing for last playoff spots whereas there’s ongoing CBA negotiations, how do you look to proceed to remain within the second?
what a play from Shey Peddy 👀 https://t.co/WrZ625D4gk pic.twitter.com/6Qdd27aspk
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 22, 2025
Peddy: “I imply, hopefully we will end the season out sturdy and we will make it to the playoffs. You already know, I feel each little sport individuals can see me play with assist. Hopefully, I’m capable of be on a WNBA roster subsequent yr. You already know, that’s all the time a purpose. I nonetheless wish to play. So that can nonetheless be a purpose of mine. And hopefully some groups like what they see, belief me and provides me, give this, go forward an opportunity.”
Ballislife: Reflecting in your time with the Phoenix Mercury for 4 seasons, what are your takeaways?
Peddy: “I’m simply very appreciative of my time right here (in Phoenix), the gamers I play with, the workers that I work with. I’ve nice reminiscences right here. It feels so bizarre being again right here. I really feel like I’ve been seeing like some acquainted followers, the workers give everyone a hug. So I actually don’t have anything however good issues to say about Phoenix, and I’m simply glad that I spent the main focus of my profession right here.”
Though Peddy has confronted adversity over the previous few years, she continues to share her story and encourage gamers on seven-day or hardship contracts to maintain going, keep within the second and younger gamers to imagine in themselves.
