Kia Nurse is an athlete who plays a key role for the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA top division with other big names.
She began playing the game at the age of four and was already competing by the time she was seven years old.
Kia led her high school team to three consecutive OFSAA championships when she was a student at St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School.
Once she got to college, she joined the Huskies’ basketball team and helped them win the 2015 and 2016 NCAA titles in back-to-back years.
Kia’s professional career began in 2018 when the New York Liberty picked her as the tenth overall pick in the WNBA draft.
In the 2023 WNBA season, Kia started every game and played in every game, averaging 5.9 points, 1.3 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game.
In her most productive season to date, she played in 34 games (all starts) with the New York Liberty in 2019 and averaged 13.7 points, 2.3 assists, and 2.5 rebounds per game.
In addition to her other accolades, she was named WNBA All-Star in 2019 and WNBL Most Valuable Player in 2020.
In addition to her basketball career, Kia showcases her expertise as a basketball commentator for TSN.
Table of Contents
Kia Nurse Biography
She was born in Hamilton, Ontario, to Richard and Cathy Nurse.
She first showed an interest in basketball when she was four and began playing when she was seven.
She played for the 2011–2012–2013 St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School squad that won the OFSAA High School Championships in consecutive years.
READ MORE – Liz Cambage Nude
She also competed in the Hamilton Transway Club, which won the provincial title seven years in a row. She eventually moved to the United States to attend university.
Kia Nurse was born to Cathy Nurse, a former varsity basketball player at McMaster.
According to Streets of Toronto, she and her husband, Richard Nurse, first crossed paths at an all-ages dance, then reconnected at another dance, and have been married ever since.
A former Canadian Football League player with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Richard Nurse is Kia Nurse’s dad.
His and his wife Cathy’s children, who were also athletes, are now professional hockey and basketball players in the National Hockey League.
Kia Nurse is the younger sister of Darnell Nurse. She plays ice hockey in the NHL.
Tamika Nurse is another sibling who is a former Oregon and Bowling Green basketball player. In 82 games played with the Oilers that season (2022–23), she had 12 goals and 22 assists.
Nurse WNBA Career
Kia Nurse was a member of the Huskies and attended the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut, USA.
She kept up a solid and consistent scoring average of 10 points or more per game during her collegiate career.
Kia Nurse is currently under the Los Angeles Sparks where she continues to make growth with her Basketball career.
She completed her undergraduate degree at UConn in 2018. The New York Liberty selected Nurse with the tenth overall choice in the 2018 WNBA Draft.
She scored 17 points in her WNBA debut in May of 2018. She won back-to-back WNBA championships with the Liberty in 2019 and 2020 before the Phoenix Mercury traded for her in 2021.
At the FIBA U17 World Championship for Women, Nurse was a member of the Under 17 National squad and averaged 14 points per game.
Kia Nurse was asked to compete for Canada at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship for Women, where she helped the team earn silver.
At the 2014 FIBA World Championship, she was a member of the Canadian squad that fell in the quarterfinals to Australia.
Kia Nurse made her second appearance at the 2015 Championship that year. She debuted for Canada during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The majority of WNBA players play in professional leagues overseas, such as the WNBL, to maintain their fitness and earn additional money.
Nurse is also no exception; she was a member of the Canberra Capitals.
The Canadian basketball star not only competed in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL), but she also had a breakout 2020 season, earning the title of league MVP.
In addition to helping the Canberra Capitals win the league championship for the second year in a row, Nurse had a fantastic stint with the squad, scoring the game-winning goal in a match against the Southside Flyers.
Nurse’s experience playing for both the Canadian junior and senior national teams is not surprising, given his skill as a player.
In the FIBA Under-17 World Championships, Kia was an integral part of her team’s third-place finish.
The 2015 Pan American Games were won by the Ontario native, who defeated the US team to claim the gold medal.
In the championship game against the United States, Kia was the most valuable player with 33 points.
As a result, the point guard was selected to carry the flag at the 2015 Pan Am Games closing ceremony.
In addition, Nurse’s 2015 FIBA America’s Women’s Championship gold medal helped catapult Canada’s national team to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympics.
However, they were only able to secure a seventh-place finish, which was somewhat disappointing.
Kia Nurse Net Worth
Basketball player Kia Nurse has achieved great success in her professional life.
The substantial net worth she has amassed is a testament to her abilities and hard work. Her net worth is estimated at $200k
Aside from being a prominent figure in the media, Kia has amassed her fortune from her participation in basketball.
She has been an integral part of WNBA teams like the Sparks and has made a significant impact.
The Sparks got her and Seattle’s fourth-overall selection in the trade for her.
The New York Liberty and Kia inked a four-year deal worth $191,720.
Her average yearly compensation of $47,930 shows her worth to the league.
Even though she switched teams, her contract shows how good of a guard she is.
Kia has been active in the community outside of basketball, with sponsorship deals and appearances.
Her prominent role as a basketball expert on sports networks further enhances her public presence and earning possibilities.
Kia Nurse has put herself in a strong financial position for the future by using her platform to earn money from basketball.