Mercury Signs Forwrd Ashley Paris

The Phoenix Mercury today announced the signing of Ashley Paris to a training camp contract. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Paris, a 6-3 power forward, was originally selected by the Los Angeles Sparks with the 26th pick (second round) of the 2009 WNBA Draft, but was released on June 4, 2009. More recently, the 22-year-old Piedmont, Calif. native spent her offseason competing in Israel for Elizur Ramla, where she posted averages of 16.1 points and 10.7 rebounds on 58.6 percent shooting in 34.8 minutes per game.

Paris and twin sister, Courtney Paris, shared the frontcourt at the University of Oklahoma, where Ashley posted senior season averages of 12.5 points and 9.6 rebounds in 2008-09. Her father, William “Bubba” Paris, was an All-Pro for the San Francisco 49ers.