Toronto’s WNBA expansion team, the Toronto Tempo, has made headlines with the signing of Canadian player Kia Nurse. This marks a significant moment as Nurse becomes the first Canadian to join the franchise.
Kia Nurse’s Career Highlights
Kia Nurse, who is 30 years old, previously played for the Chicago Sky. In the last season, she averaged 7.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists over 44 games, with 18 of those as a starter. Throughout her WNBA career, Nurse has played in 245 games after being selected 10th overall by the New York Liberty in 2018.
Career Statistics
| Team | Games Played | Points Per Game | Rebounds Per Game | Assists Per Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | — | — | — | — |
| Mercury | — | — | — | — |
| Storm | — | — | — | — |
| Sparks | — | — | — | — |
| Sky | 44 | 7.2 | 2.3 | 1.3 |
Nurse holds an impressive career average of 8.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists across her time in the league, which has included stints with the Liberty, Phoenix Mercury, Seattle Storm, Los Angeles Sparks, and the Sky.
Achievements Beyond the WNBA
In addition to her professional basketball career, Kia Nurse boasts multiple accolades. She won two NCAA championships with UConn in 2015 and 2016. Nurse also claimed two WNBL titles in Australia during the 2019 and 2020 seasons, along with earning the 2020 WNBL MVP award.
International Contributions
- Member of the Canadian senior women’s national team for over a decade.
- Participated in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 Olympic Games.
The signing of Kia Nurse comes shortly after the Toronto Tempo’s inaugural entry draft. During this draft, the Tempo secured four players: guard Kiki Rice (6th overall), forward Teonni Key (22nd overall), forward Saffron Shiels (26th overall), and guard Charlise Dunn (36th overall).
This strategic move enhances the Tempo’s roster and aims to establish a strong foundation for the team’s future in the WNBA.
