The Toronto Tempo will have a Canadian on their roster for their first season in the WNBA as Kia Nurse will sign with the expansion franchise.
“This country has supported me throughout my career, and being part of the Tempo as the WNBA comes to Canada is incredibly meaningful.”
— Toronto Tempo (@TempoBasketball) April 14, 2026
Welcome home, Kia. 🩵 pic.twitter.com/trMlhAQ2hk
Nurse, 30, spent last season with the Chicago Sky where she averaged 7.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists alongside a 35.4 field goal percentage over 44 games.
The Tempo will be Nurse’s sixth team in six seasons.
A native of Hamilton, Nurse has averaged 8.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists over 245 career games with the New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury, Seattle Storm, Los Angeles Sparks and Sky.
Nurse made a lone All-Star appearance in 2019 with the Liberty, during her second season in the league.
New York selected Nurse with the 10th overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft after a terrific collegiate career with the Connecticut Huskies, where she won two national titles during her four years with the school.
Nurse has made numerous appearances with Canada’s women’s basketball team, and played in the Summer Olympics in 2016, 2020, and 2024.
Nurse works for TSN as a basketball analyst.
Tempo roster taking shape
The Tempo continued to form their roster for the 2026 season on Monday night as they participated in their first WNBA Draft.
All rise for the Toronto Tempo Draft Class of 2026. 🌟
— Toronto Tempo (@TempoBasketball) April 14, 2026
Entry Draft presented by @TurboTaxCanada pic.twitter.com/BlM9aIFWXg
With the sixth overall pick, the Tempo selected UCLA guard Kiki Rice before taking Kentucky forward Teonni Key and forward Saffron Shiels out of Australia in the second round.
Toronto finished their first WNBA Draft in franchise history by taking Davidson forward Charlise Dunn in the third round.
The Tempo already selected numerous players during the Expansion Draft, including guard Julie Allemand, formerly of the Sparks.
Toronto also signed guards Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes last week.
