Ontarians in the WNBA: 25th Season Edition
The WNBA kicks off its 25th season on Friday May 14th, with three Ontario players on opening night rosters.
| Player | WNBA Team | NCAA School | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natalie Achonwa | Minnesota Lynx | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | Guelph, ON |
| Bridget Carleton | Minnesota Lynx | Iowa State Cyclones | Chatham, ON |
| Kia Nurse | Phoenix Mercury | UConn Huskies | Hamilton, ON |
Natalie Achonwa grew up playing basketball in Guelph and later Hamilton. She played for Team Ontario from 2006 to 2008, earning tournament MVP nods in both 2006 and 2008. After four seasons with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, she was drafted 9th overall by Indiana in the 2014 WNBA Draft.
Bridget Carleton grew up playing club basketball for the Chatham-Kent Wildcats. She won a National Championship with Team Ontario in 2012. After playing four season with the Iowa State Cyclones, she would be picked 21st overall in the 2019 WNBA Draft.
Kia Nurse came up through the Hamilton Transway system, and played on Team Ontario from 2010 to 2013. She won the Hazel Miner award for Ontario Player of the Year in 2010 and 2011. She then went to the University of Connecticut and won two NCAA Championships in 2015 & 2016. She was chosen 10th overall in the 2018 WNBA Draft.
All three players will be in action on opening night when the Phoenix Mercury (Nurse) take on the Minnesota Lynx (Carleton, Achonwa) at 9:00PM EST. Those wishing to watch can purchase the WNBA League Pass for $17 USD for the entire season.
Kia Nurse was traded to Phoenix from the New York Liberty on February 10th. Nurse has had a busy start to 2021, joining TSN as a member of its broadcast crew for NBA and NCAA game coverage ahead of her WNBA season. She participated in the her-story making all-female broadcast crew for a Raptors game on TSN on March 24th.
Achonwa was signed by Minnesota as a free agent on February 1st after playing six seasons with the Indiana Fever.
Elsewhere in the league, the Seattle Storm are the defending champions from the 2020 WNBA bubble, led by finals MVP Breanna Stewart. The Storm’s first game is scheduled for Saturday, May 15th vs. the Las Vegas Aces. 2021 first overall draft pick Charli Collier (Texas Longhorns) will suit up for the Dallas Wings. NCAA Final Four standout Aari McDonald (Arizona Wildcats) was drafted third overall by the Atlanta Dream.
Earlier today, Tangerine Bank was announced as a Canadian partner of the WNBA in celebration of the league’s anniversary. This multiyear partnership will see Tangerine present WNBA Tip-Off 2021, as the league’s landmark 25th season begins on Friday, May 14th, 2021. Tangerine Bank and the WNBA will team up to mark 25 years of empowering and uplifting women in sports, and are inviting fans to support and watch Canada’s best basketball players perform at the highest level. Three opening weekend games will be aired on Canadian TV:
- Friday, May 14: New York Liberty vs. Indiana Fever on Sportsnet ONE and SN NOW at 7:00PM EST
- Saturday, May 15: Chicago Sky vs. Washington Mystics on TSN at 1:00PM EST
- Saturday, May 15: Seattle Storm vs. Las Vegas Aces on Sportsnet ONE and SN NOW at 3:00PM EST
On May 3rd, the WNBA announced a partnership with Google to be named a presenting sponsor and WNBA Changemaker. As part of this new partnership, Google will help create and deliver a “25 for 25: 25 Regular Season Games on EPSN” special to mark the WNBA’s 25th season. Google will also support the espnW Summit and sponsor the WNBA Playoffs. The new partnerships with Google and Tangerine are just two of many ways the WNBA will celebrate its 25 year history this season.
Ontario Basketball wishes Natalie, Bridget and Kia a great season! Check out Ontario Basketball’s Alumni page for more information on their playing careers in Ontario.
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Image Credits:
Media Day Shots: Natalie Achonwa – Bridget Carleton – Kia Nurse