By Melanie Sowerinski, Seattle Storm PR
After taking the 2022 season off nursing an ACL injury last year, WNBA vet Kia nurse She’s excited to show Seattle what she’s capable of.
Nurse was drafted No. 10 overall in the 2018 WNBA Draft and went on to spend the next three seasons in New York before moving on to play for Phoenix in 2021.
The 6-0 guard was excited to get back on the floor in Monday’s preseason contest against rival and former team, the Phoenix Mercury.
“It was great to get back into it, it’s been a while since I’ve had a game,” Nurse said. “I love the Seattle fans and even when I played with them it was clear how much they love this team and give women’s basketball a place here. I was very happy to be in front of them and get my first belt in a storm.
Nurse appeared in all 34 games his rookie season with the Liberty (2018) and started the following season (2019) and 18 in 2020. She was a key player on the Mercury’s 2021 roster before tearing her ACL in the fourth game. Semifinals vs. Las Vegas Aces.
As the 2023 regular season heats up, a WNBA vet is taking preventative measures to keep her healthy.
“This is a different burden than my knee has ever seen,” said Nurse. “It’s important that I continue to listen to my body. If there is an ailment or illness, I need to make sure that this does not affect anything that has just been fixed.
As the leader of one of the younger teams in the league, Nurse brings invaluable experience to a starting-heavy lineup.
Her versatility and past stints on different teams have made her approachable as a player and prepare her to play a major role in a league as competitive as the WNBA.
“Kia has been in the league for a while and has been in some good organizations,” said the Storm head coach. Noel Quinn. he said. “She has a high basketball IQ and is imparting that knowledge to young players, and it’s been great to watch. I want you to continue to improve in getting ready to play big minutes. She hasn’t played in a while, but every day I watch the progress in her basketball conditioning. I’m counting on her to bring it on both ends of the floor.”
Nurse comes from an amazing athletic family line. Her brother Darnell played defense for the Edmonton Oilers while her older sister played basketball at Oregon and Bowling Green. Her father Richard played five seasons for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the CFL and her mother played basketball at McMaster University. Kia’s uncle is former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, and her cousin Sarah Nurse is among the female hockey players helping Canada win silver and gold medals at the 2018 and 2022 Olympics.
Off the basketball court, Nurse looks forward to hiking in the Emerald City, especially after spending the past year in the desert. She loves spending time with her beloved German shorthair pointer, Prim, who has traveled to the Pacific Northwest.
Be sure to keep an eye on Nurse as she prepares for her fifth season in the pros.
“We’re going to be young, we’re going to be fast, but we’re going to play hard, and it gives you a chance to win some games,” Nurse said.