Kitija Laksa Bio
Kitija Laksa, born on 21 May 1996, is a Latvian professional basketball player who currently plays for the Toronto Tempo of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). A 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) small forward listed at 155 lb (70 kg), she has built a career that spans elite European clubs and the WNBA, highlighted by a EuroLeague title and a Serie A championship run in Italy. After being drafted in 2020 and waiting several years for her first WNBA appearance, Laksa debuted in 2025 and was selected in the 2026 expansion draft by Toronto.
Before reaching the professional ranks, Laksa starred at the University of South Florida, where she was recognized as one of the top freshmen in the American Athletic Conference (AAC). Her blend of perimeter shooting, size, and basketball IQ has allowed her to compete at the highest levels of both European and American women’s basketball.
Early Life and Background
Kitija Laksa was born in Riga, Latvia, on 21 May 1996. She grew up in the Latvian capital and attended the Riga French Lycée, a respected secondary school known for producing competitive athletes in multiple sports. Riga’s strong basketball culture, combined with Latvia’s tradition of developing skilled perimeter players, helped shape her early interest in the game.
As a youth player, Laksa trained within the Latvian basketball system and quickly drew attention for her shooting touch and court vision. Her performances at the high school level earned her a scholarship offer from the University of South Florida, where she joined the South Florida Bulls women’s basketball program in 2015.
Path to Basketball
Laksa’s transition to American collegiate basketball began when she enrolled at the University of South Florida in 2015. Playing for the South Florida Bulls, she made an immediate impact and was named the AAC Freshman of the Year in 2016, while also earning a spot on the AAC All-Freshman Team. Those honors established her as one of the conference’s most promising young talents.
Her development continued through her sophomore and junior seasons, during which she expanded her role as a scoring wing. In November 2018, however, a knee injury cut short her senior year and forced her to reassess her path. Rather than returning for a fifth collegiate season, Laksa opted to begin her professional career.
Kitija Laksa Career
Early Career (2019–2023)
In July 2019, Laksa signed with TTT Riga, one of the most decorated clubs in Latvian women’s basketball. The move marked the start of her professional career and gave her a platform to compete in top European competitions while representing her home country. She spent four seasons with TTT Riga, developing into a reliable scoring option and helping the club compete in continental tournaments.
Her tenure at TTT Riga included a notable club achievement in 2023, when the team won the FIBA Europe SuperCup Women. The victory added an international title to her résumé and underscored her growth as a professional competitor on the European stage.
European Breakthrough (2023–2024)
In February 2023, Laksa signed a contract with the Dallas Wings but was waived in May before ever playing a WNBA game. Later that year, she joined Fenerbahçe of the Women’s Basketball Super League, one of the strongest club programs in Europe. Her move to Istanbul represented a significant step up in competition level.
During the 2023–24 season, Laksa experienced her most decorated campaign as a professional. She helped Fenerbahçe capture the EuroLeague championship in 2024, won the Turkish Cup that same year, and completed a continental Triple Crown with the club. The season cemented her reputation as a clutch performer in high-stakes European basketball.
Phoenix Mercury Era (2025)
On 12 February 2025, Laksa signed a contract with the Phoenix Mercury, finally giving her a WNBA roster spot five years after she was originally drafted. On 21 May 2025, she made her long-awaited WNBA debut in an 89–86 win over the Los Angeles Sparks, recording 9 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals in 23 minutes off the bench. The performance marked a milestone moment in her career.
PF Schio Era (2024–2025)
Following her EuroLeague success, Laksa joined PF Schio in Italy’s Serie A, continuing her career in one of Europe’s top domestic leagues. With Schio, she added two Serie A championships in 2025 and 2026, further broadening her list of club titles. She was also named Serie A Finals MVP in 2026, recognition of her impact in Italy’s postseason.
Toronto Tempo Era (2026–Present)
On 3 April 2026, Laksa was selected 21st overall by the Toronto Tempo in the 2026 WNBA expansion draft, becoming the first Latvian-born player to be drafted from an expansion draft by either the WNBA or the NBA. The selection secured her a roster spot with the league’s newest franchise and set the stage for the next chapter of her WNBA career.
Playing Style and Strengths
Laksa is known primarily as a scoring wing with reliable perimeter shooting and the size to play through contact at the small forward position. Her experience across multiple European systems has made her comfortable operating in structured offenses, and her basketball IQ allows her to contribute as both a scorer and a playmaker, as evidenced by her four assists in her WNBA debut.
Notable Events and Milestones
Laksa’s most celebrated moment came in 2024, when she helped Fenerbahçe complete a Triple Crown, including the EuroLeague title. In 2025, she made her WNBA debut with the Phoenix Mercury after a five-year wait, and in 2026 she earned Serie A Finals MVP honors and was selected by the Toronto Tempo in the expansion draft.
Kitija Laksa Career Wins
Kitija Laksa has accumulated a wide range of club titles across European basketball since turning professional in 2019. Her trophy case includes the FIBA Europe SuperCup Women (2023), the EuroLeague championship (2024), the Turkish Cup (2024), a Triple Crown (2024), and consecutive Serie A championships with PF Schio in 2025 and 2026.
European Title Highlights
Laksa’s European résumé began at TTT Riga, where she won the FIBA Europe SuperCup Women in 2023. She then moved to Fenerbahçe and quickly added the Turkish Cup, the EuroLeague championship, and a Triple Crown in 2024, all in a single dominant season.
Italian League Highlights
With PF Schio in Italy’s Serie A, Laksa added back-to-back league titles in 2025 and 2026. Her performance in the 2026 playoffs earned her Serie A Finals MVP, marking one of the most distinguished individual honors of her professional career.
Kitija Laksa Family
Personal Life
Kitija Laksa was raised in Riga, Latvia, and has continued to maintain ties to her home country throughout her professional career. Publicly available verified information about her parents, spouse, and children is limited, and no further personal-life details are included here to avoid speculation.
2025 Season Performance
Laksa’s 2025 campaign was defined by a long-awaited WNBA debut. After signing with the Phoenix Mercury in February 2025, she waited until 21 May 2025 to step onto a WNBA court, ultimately contributing 9 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals in 23 minutes off the bench in an 89–86 win over the Los Angeles Sparks. The performance was a statement after five years of professional patience.
Outside the WNBA, Laksa continued her European career with PF Schio, where she helped the club secure the Serie A championship in 2025. Balancing commitments between the WNBA and European club play, she demonstrated the durability and consistency that have defined her career.
Her 2025 season laid the groundwork for the next chapter, as her strong play for both the Mercury and Schio positioned her as a desirable player in the 2026 WNBA expansion draft, where the Toronto Tempo selected her 21st overall. The combination of her WNBA debut impact and continued European success suggested continued growth heading into her new role in Toronto.