WNBA Report: Toronto Tempo signing Canada’s Kia Nurse

Kia Nurse is headed back to Canada.

The Hamilton, Ontario native is reportedly signing a contract with the expansion Toronto Tempo, according to WNBA insiders.

Here’s what you need to know.

Kia Nurse

Nurse, 30, is the first Canadian signing for Canada’s lone WNBA franchise. She spent last season with the Chicago Sky, averaging 7.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists across 44 games, with 18 starts.

An All-Star in 2019, Nurse has played 245 games in the WNBA since being selected 10th overall by the New York Liberty in the 2018 draft. She averages 8.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in a career split between the Liberty, Phoenix Mercury, Seattle Storm, Los Angeles Sparks and Sky.

Nurse also has a decorated career outside the WNBA. Her accolades include two NCAA championships with UConn (2015, 2016), two WNBL titles in Australia (2019, 2020) and she was named 2020 WNBL MVP.

Nurse has also been a staple of the national team for over a decade, representing Canada at the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games’.

Toronto Tempo

News of the Nurse signing broke just after Toronto went through the franchise’s first-ever entry draft. The Tempo made four picks, selecting guard Kiki Rice (sixth overall), forward Teonni Key (22nd), forward Saffron Shiels (26th) and guard Charlise Dunn (36th).

Oddsmakers view Toronto as a much more viable option this season than fellow expansion club Portland. While the Tempo are moderate long shots to win the WNBA championship at +6000, the Fire have the longest odds in the league at +20,000.