Kia Nurse MVP of WNBL | The Boneyard

Kia Nurse MVP of WNBL

MJL243

MJL243

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Wow, that was fast! :p:D

Kia Nurse named MVP - UC Capitals

"A rising WNBA star with the New York Liberty, Nurse was the WNBL’s leading scorer this season averaging 21.3 points per game plus 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists. Playing in her second season in the WNBL, the Canadian scored double figures in every game and produced a WNBL career-best 33 points against the Southside Flyers in Round 14. "
 
Very happy for close runner up Brianna Turner as well. :D


Nurse polled 94 votes to win the award over the Adelaide Lightning’s first-year star import Brianna Turner (88 votes) and a trio of Australian Opals – Melbourne Boomers co-captain Cayla George (70), Perth Lynx guard Katie-Rae Ebzery (69) and Adelaide’s Steph Talbot (65) – rounding out the Top 5.
 
MJL243 said:
"A rising WNBA star with the New York Liberty, Nurse was the WNBL’s leading scorer this season averaging 21.3 points per game plus 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists.
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Kia Nurse is MVP for WNBL!!! Odd how things turn out. Kia also made the WNBA All-Star game. Most folks would have thought the star would be Gabby Williams when they graduated. Same with Collier and Samuelson. Well it is early in their careers. This point guard thing may be best for Gabby since she is too small to play forward in the WNBA. Maybe Lou can gain her coach's confidence in Chicago or orchestrate a trade to a better opportunity.
 
Every time I see Kia earn another honor (emphasizing the word "earn") through hard work and perseverance it brings a smile to my face, recalling those BY'er's who never got over the fact that she replaced Saniya Chong as a starter in only her 3rd game as a Freshman, and never relinquished that role. She was underrated by a number of individuals on this board who claimed she'd never be more than a serviceable bench player in the WNBA. Thanks for proving them wrong, Kia. Best of luck to you going forward. BTW, Bria Hartley will not be returning to the NY Liberty so send KLS on over. A change of scenery would do her some good.
 
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Lynx23 said:
Every time I see Kia earn another honor (emphasizing the word "earn") through hard work and perseverance it brings a smile to my face, recalling those BY'er's who never got over the fact that she replaced Saniya Chong as a starter in only her 3rd game as a Freshman, and never relinquished that role. She was underrated by a number of individuals on this board who claimed she'd never be more than a serviceable bench player in the WNBA. Thanks for proving them wrong, Kia. Best of luck to you going forward. BTW, Bria Hartley will not be returning to the NY Liberty so send KLS on over. A change of scenery would do her some good.
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I'm Carnac, and I approve this post!!! ;)
 
One of my all time favorites. Everybody gets a like for supporting Kia.
Maybe Geno can get her to come back for a practice and teach the team how to play Canadian style.
 
Such a great kid and story. Likable and well spoken off the court, and an absolute terror on the court. She really is one of my all time favorites, and the "nasty piece of business" reference regarding her came from none other than her father.

She's a player that everyone wants on their team, and no one wants to play against. So proud of all she's accomplished and earned, as another poster pointed out.
 
I think most if not all of her starting UCONN teammates are on the Wall. I would have thought that 14.5 points per game plus Defensive Player of the Year would have made the 10-player AA cut but there was a lot of talent in WCBB her Senior year. She's eclipsed most of those players drafted ahead of her at the WNBA level.
 
Kia should have been on the wall..she was the consistent glue as a four year starter and then Defensive Player of the Year! Ridiculous she isn't on the wall! Congrat's to all her achievements on and off the court!
 
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Lynx23 said:
Every time I see Kia earn another honor (emphasizing the word "earn") through hard work and perseverance it brings a smile to my face, recalling those BY'er's who never got over the fact that she replaced Saniya Chong as a starter in only her 3rd game as a Freshman, and never relinquished that role. She was underrated by a number of individuals on this board who claimed she'd never be more than a serviceable bench player in the WNBA. Thanks for proving them wrong, Kia. Best of luck to you going forward. BTW, Bria Hartley will not be returning to the NY Liberty so send KLS on over. A change of scenery would do her some good.
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She never took a play off, always looked to pass to an open teammate , even on days that everything was going in. Sabrina is going to love playing with Kia.
 
I so miss her in a UConn uniform. I wish our present SG had her edge and fire.
 
Update - KLS traded to Dallas for Azura Stevens and draft pick.
 
She had Geno's trust from Day 1. Not too many did. I loved her team play. She's a winner.
 
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A familiar picture.....

1581870653715.png
 
Game 1 of the Semifinals went Kia's way

wnbl.basketball

UC CAPITALS DEFEAT MELBOUNE BOOMERS, 84-70 IN GAME ONE OF THE 2019/20 WNBL SEMI-FINALS

UC CAPITALS DEFEAT MELBOUNE BOOMERS, 84-70 IN GAME ONE OF THE 2019/20 WNBL SEMI-FINALS
wnbl.basketball wnbl.basketball

This season’s MVP Kia Nurse had a relatively quiet first half, but got in rhythm late in the third quarter, pulling the Capitals out of a seven-point deficit with three consecutive three-point shots. Nurse would go on to score a game-high 25 points.

By the way, played all 40 minutes. No one else came close

wnbl.basketball

Stats | WNBL Australia

WNBL | The home page of the Women's National Basketball League, the longest running female sporting competition in Australia!
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Well, Kia Nurse continues to do great things down under leading her team into the finals on the deciding game in a tough 3 game series. (Even if her shooting numbers were not good)

and guess who played all 40 minutes. ;)

wnbl.basketball

Stats | UC Capitals

The University of Canberra Capitals are a nine-time championship winning WNBL team based in Canberra, Australia.
wnbl.basketball wnbl.basketball

and Sophie Cunningham, making her "mark" on the WNBL in a more infamous way

wnbl.basketball

The UC Capitals claim spot in grand final - UC Capitals

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The fourth quarter was met with a hot start by Melbourne, whose seven-point run put them within four points of the Capitals. However, a big three by Olivia Epoupa put a stop to that momentum swing and a Cunningham personal foul on Nurse sent her to the line for three, all of which she made, to end the game.
 
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I have to agree that they will be a force with Stokes and Charles benefitting from good passes inside.
 
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In addition, Marine Johannes (underrated only by those who don't know of her) just signed a multi-year contract and Asia Durr will be returning from injury. Could be an interesting year for The Liberty. Plenty of young talent and a new coach, owner, and venue.
 
I always felt Kia got the short end of the All American stick. Her entire career she was considered the 4th best player on her team and we're only allowed to nominate 3 players. She deserved the recognition as an AA. At least she got NDPOY
 
Kia was genuinely surprised to be recruited by UCONN. I suspect she was comfortable deferring to her more talented and better known teammates. nearly all of whom have made the Wall. She was always a young, rising star on the Canadian National team, and she has established herself as a bona fide star for the NY Liberty and UC Capitals. Her shooting for the UC Captials has not been great, but she led the team into the playoffs while Griffin sat out almost the entire year with an injury, and Tolo spent a considerable amount of time out with injury as well. I imagine Kia was double and tripled-team much of the time as she became the main scoring threat while also leading the WNBL in minutes, which had to take a toll as well. The fact that she was the WNBL's MVP is probably less a matter of her leading the league in scoring than her all-around play and contribution to her team.
 
eebmg said:
Very happy for close runner up Brianna Turner as well. :D


Nurse polled 94 votes to win the award over the Adelaide Lightning’s first-year star import Brianna Turner (88 votes) and a trio of Australian Opals – Melbourne Boomers co-captain Cayla George (70), Perth Lynx guard Katie-Rae Ebzery (69) and Adelaide’s Steph Talbot (65) – rounding out the Top 5.
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I'm trying to imagine this thread had it been a Notre Dame alum that won the award after leading the league in scoring on sub-40% shooting and it had been a UConn alum that finished second while averaging a double-double and leading the league in blocks. :p

In all seriousness, Kia has become a great pro and her best basketball is still ahead of her. She has greatly exceeded my expectations for her pro career.

As for Bri, I'm delighted that she had a great season in Australia. It's been fun following she and Westbeld on instagram these past few months. They seem to be having the time of their lives in Australia.

It's not the best quality of pay or play in the world, but spending the American winter enjoying Australian summer seems like a pretty nice perk!

Both Nurse and Turner have interesting WNBA seasons ahead. After one year of youth, Brondello went back to her natural tendencies and stocked Phoenix with vets to surround SDS/BG/DT. Turner will have to fight for minutes against vets like Jess Breland.

Meanwhile, the Liberty are going to have quite the competition for backcourt playing time. Point guard seems pretty set with Clarendon signed and Ionescu waiting in the wings. Nurse is their best two guard but Durr and Marine Johannes are both too talented not to play.
 
I'm trying to imagine this thread had it been a Notre Dame alum that won the award after leading the league in scoring on sub-40% shooting and it had been a UConn alum that finished second while averaging a double-double and leading the league in blocks.

Honestly, I don't think anyone would have cared as I doubt many BY'ers follow the WNBL. But since it was Kia who won the MVP it bears some acknowledgement, and congratulations are in order. While many players had better stats (except for ppg and mpg, which do count), she carried the UC Capitals on her shoulders for nearly the entire season. That's what an MVP does. And since its Australia we're taking about and not the USA, apparently something more than stats matters.
 
Lynx23 said:
In addition, Marine Johannes (underrated only by those who don't know of her) just signed a multi-year contract and Asia Durr will be returning from injury. Could be an interesting year for The Liberty. Plenty of young talent and a new coach, owner, and venue.
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Gee, I hope so. I've been following the Liberty for the last 4 years. I've seen them once in person in Las Vegas. Had great seats, really enjoyed the game. It would be nice to see them climb back on top of the Eastern Conference standings. A perch they haven't sat on in a while. :confused:
 
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