Kia Nurse

Biography

Kia Nurse has been named to three Olympic teams and has competed in three FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cups, highlighted by a fourth-place finish in 2022 for Canada’s best result in the tournament since 1986. She ranked second on the team in scoring with 11 points per game. 

In her Olympic debut at Rio 2016, Nurse led Canada in playing time (2:33:20) and scoring (66 points) as the team made it to the quarterfinals. At Tokyo 2020, she again paced the team in scoring with 39 points and averaged 36.1 minutes per game as she accumulated the most playing time on the team. 

Nurse led Canada to two historic titles in 2015, taking home gold at both the Pan American Games in Toronto and the FIBA AmeriCup. Nurse was Canada’s leading scorer at the Pan Am Games, averaging 13.6 points per game for a total of 68, including an other-worldly 33 points in the gold medal win versus the United States. The victory was Canada’s first ever gold at the Pan Am Games in women’s basketball. Her performance led to her being named Canada’s flag bearer for the Closing Ceremony. Nurse also led the way at the AmeriCup, helping Canada win the tournament for the first time in 20 years and secure qualification for Rio 2016.

Nurse was a key contributor in Canada’s gold medal defence at the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup, averaging 21.1 minutes per game and 10.5 points per game. At the 2018 FIBA Women’s World Cup, she finished third in the tournament in points per game (18.2) and total points (109). 

In her first year with the senior national team in 2013, Nurse averaged 10 points per game at the FIBA AmeriCup to help Canada finish second and qualify for the FIBA World Cup the following year. She was the youngest member of the 2014 World Cup team but started every game, leading Canada to a fifth-place finish.

Nurse debuted for Team Canada at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship in 2011, winning bronze. The next year she starred as a team captain at the FIBA U17 World Championship, leading the team with 13.6 points per game and helping win the bronze medal for Canada’s first ever podium result at the tournament.

After winning three straight Ontario high school championships, Nurse committed to play with the University of Connecticut. In her first year at UConn she quickly took over a starting back court role and became a significant part of the team’s NCAA titles in 2015 and 2016, earning ACC Freshman of the Year honours in 2015 and an All-ACC Third Team selection in 2016.  The Huskies made the NCAA Final Four in her junior and senior years. Nurse was named the ACC Player of the Year in 2017 and Division 1 Defensive Player of the Year in 2018.

Nurse was taken fifth overall in the 2018 WNBA draft by the New York Liberty. She played there for three seasons, making the 2019 All-Star Game before joining Phoenix in 2021. She made the WNBA Finals in her first year with the Mercury. She next played for the Seattle Storm before being traded to the Las Vegas Aces in 2024. She also played two seasons overseas in the Australian WNBL, winning back-to-back league championships with the Canberra Capitals and being named the 2020 league MVP.

A Little More About Kia            

Getting into the Sport: Started playing basketball at age 4, growing up around the game with her sister and parents… Outside Interests: Works as an analyst for TSN’s basketball coverage… Graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2018… Enjoys Netflix and spending time with family and friends… Odds and Ends: Favourite motto: “Respect All, Fear None”… Father, Richard Nurse, played wide receiver for the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Brother, Darnell Nurse, plays in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers. Cousin, Sarah Nurse, plays for the Canadian women’s hockey team and for Toronto in the PWHL…