[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Canadian basketball star Kia Nurse has always had her eyes on the prize.
As a 26-year old Olympian and two-time NCAA champion, Nurse’s longest career break from basketball has been nine days, and nine days only. This pause took place during the days between the end of her debut WNBA season and the World Cup, the only time she’s had to relax her whole life.
Nurse has always been an avid fan of basketball. Having been raised in a family that would rather pick up a basketball than a hockey stick, her athletic parents and siblings were much of her inspiration growing up. When she was 17, she was recruited by the University of Connecticut, leading the league in free throw percentages and earning over 100 assists. By the end of her time on the best college basketball team out there, Nurse had made a name for herself, already recognized by many, riding high on their radars.
Since having been drafted 10th overall in the 2018 WNBA Draft, more doors have been opened for Nurse than she can keep track of. The young star has the on-court determination and aggression that many don’t have — in fact, the spotlight always returns to her. With the focus on Nurse, many began to notice that the women’s team was performing impressively well and deserved more recognition. As Nurse leads the team with impact, she can’t help but take credit for some of the praise the women’s team is getting. After all, she wants her teammates to bask in all the glory they deserve.
That’s one of the best parts about Nurse; while she’s focused on the court, she’s humble off of it. She’s risen to fame on her family’s gifted pillar of athleticism, though has made her very own name for herself through her shooting and high basketball IQ. While she has yet to reach her full potential, she’s already breaking strides in her career that at one point seemed unachievable.
By choosing to revolve her life around a sport that remains overwhelmingly male focused, Nurse knew there were shortcomings to be faced. Now, however, while the New York Liberty guard still grapples to find her footing, she’s become a fan favourite and an ultimate successor. At just her second year in the league (2019), Nurse was voted to be a starter in the 2019 WNBA All-Star Game. While she executed this game wonderfully, all she was focused on was how well she played and how she could better influence young girls at home, aspiring to one day represent in the WNBA, just like she is doing.
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Just weeks ago, Nurse re-signed her contract extension for the upcoming season with Phoenix Mercury. Nurse tore her ACL in October and has since been working her way up to a full recovery. While she’s also been loyal to the New York Liberty team for three years, the all-star is definitely ready to start this season off on a positive note, and we have full faith she’ll do it justice.
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