I think she's (Kia) playing at UConn to help her for the Canadian national team, rather than the reverse, but both teams benefit.
NAAAHHH. Kia began playing with Team Canada long before she ever thought of becoming a Husky. Representing her native Canada was a childhood dream. So Team Canada was in her thoughts when she couldn't even locate Connecticut on the map. And while both teams certainly do mutually benefit from her play, I don't think that benefit is nearly the same for both teams. In 4 years, Kia has played 55 games for Team Canada under coach Lisa Thomaidis. In her first year at UConn, Kia played 39 games under the tutelage of the greatest women's basketball coach in the world. That's priceless. And while the competition is definitely tougher at the international level, the coaching and teaching cannot compare to what Kia gets at UConn. Imagine how much she will learn and improve by the time she has practiced and played almost 160 games at UConn.
When Kia first came to UConn, she was one helluva tough, determined, fearless kid on the court, but she made tons of mistakes. She had (and still has) lots to learn in order to become a top player. I doubt her National team, composed of mostly older, experienced athletes, spends very much time on the fundamentals. Kia's so young- she's shown that she needs that. So it would seem that practicing, learning and playing at UConn for 6 months straight is far more beneficial than playing (on average) 10 games a year with Team Canada, regardless of how elite that competition is.
Judging by the incredible passion and effort with which Kia played every minute of every game this past season, I cannot possibly imagine her time at UConn to be just one step in a well thought-out process to make herself a better player for Team Canada. NO! She is through and through a Husky who also just happens to play for Team Canada.
