PHOENIX – The three-time WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury signed free agent center Cayla Francis, the team has announced today. Francis has played professionally in Australia since 2007 and averaged 7.2 points and 4.5 rebounds with the Australian National Team during their run to a FIBA World Championships Bronze medal in 2014. This is her first stint in the WNBA.

“Cayla has shown a lot of growth in her game and will be able to help our team immediately,” said Phoenix Mercury General Manager Jim Pitman. “Playing with great post players like Brittney Griner and Candice Dupree, Cayla’s ability to shoot from distance and spread the floor at her size will make her a unique player in the WNBA and is a great fit for the Mercury.”

Francis, 25, is currently playing in Australia’s WNBL with the JCU Townsville Fire in a league that includes notable WNBA talent like Penny Taylor, Cappie Pondexter and Lauren Jackson. She currently ranks among the league leaders in points (4th, 17.2 ppg), rebounds (3rd, 10.3 rpg) and blocks (4th, 1.2 bpg). The 6-foot-4 center is currently shooting 49.6-percent from the field and 38.0-percent from beyond the three-point line, leading the Fire to the best record in Australia’s top women’s league. On January 20, she was named WNBL Player of the Week.

During the 2013-14 season, Francis played with Nantes Reze Basket in France’s top women’s professional league where she led the team with 14.4 points and 6.8 rebounds. She played 10 games of Eurocup with Nantes Reze Basket where she averaged 11.7 points and 6.9 rebounds. She also spent the 2012-13 season in France, playing for Pays d’Aix Basket and averaged 12.5 points and a team-high 9.9 rebounds.

Francis began her professional career in Australia playing in 2005 with the Australian Institute for Sport in the WNBL and has also played with Adelaide (2008-09 and 2009-10) and Logan (2010-11 and 2011-12).