Canada’s Kia Nurse is heading northwest.
The Hamilton, Ontario, venue announced Friday on Twitter that it will sign with the Seattle Storm as a loose agency, leaving Phoenix Mercury after two seasons.
Nurse, 26, missed the entire 2022 season due to a knee injury he suffered in the 2021 playoffs. He returned to the festival at the World Cup in the fall, where he helped Canada finish fourth, its most productive final in a primary basketball tournament since 1986.
The University of Connecticut alumna averaged 11 game-consistent issues in her WNBA career, averaging 2. 8 rebounds and two assists.
Good morning Seattle ??⛈ pic. twitter. com/1n7MwsJvib
She joins a marquee franchise in Seattle that recently saw two stars leave the team, with Sue Bird’s retirement followed by Breanna Stewart’s move to New York Liberty as a loose agency. Nurse spent the first 3 seasons of his career with Liberty after being selected tenth overall through the club in 2018.
Seattle has reached an agreement with Australian guard Sami Whitcomb.
Noelle Quinn, head coach of the Storm, is the top assistant for the Canadian Women’s National Team.
“Kia is a talented and flexible shooting guard and has proven to have an impact on the player and competitor in our league,” said Storm general manager Talisa Rhea. the positives will have an effect on our team here in Seattle. “
Two other Canadians are under contract for the upcoming WNBA season, Bridget Carleton and Natalie Achonwa, both members of the Minnesota Lynx. However, Achonwa’s prestige is in doubt after she announced she was pregnant in November.
thanks Merc ?? pic. twitter. com/M8FCYWAgHp
Meanwhile, Azura Stevens is signing with the Los Angeles Sparks, she announced Friday.
The 6-foot-6-inch forward earned a WNBA name with the Chicago Sky in 2021 and averaged 9. 0 problems and 4. 4 rebounds in her career.
“I’m beyond excited to sign up for the Los Angeles Sparks,” she said. “The plan that [general manager Karen Bryant and coach Curt Miller] are putting in place for this team and this organization is special and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a component of this. I can’t wait to get to Los Angeles [and] get to work!”
Stevens selected through Dallas in 2018 and played in 34 games in his first season, earning WNBA rookie team honors.
The Sparks already added Dearica Hamby in an industry with Las Vegas last month and Jasmine Thomas in a separate deal. Los Angeles also re-signed Lexie Brown.
Chicago has now lost Stevens, Courtney Vandersloot and Candace Parker to loose agency, the team has signed midfielder Elizabeth Williams, who is a dominant defensive player.
“We are thrilled to have Elizabeth in the Chicago Sky uniform,” said Sky general manager and coach James Wade. “Since she’s been in the league, she’s been the epitome of a hard-working player, a leader and embodies the values of the WNBA. “
With The Associated Press
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