Checking in on the WNBA Canada Club

The WNBA season is surging towards the playoffs, so it’s the perfect time to check in on the league’s “Canada Club” for an update on how the stars of Canadian basketball are fairing against the best of the best in women’s basketball.

Kia Nurse, G, Seattle Storm (Hamilton, Ontario)

Nurse’s first season with the Storm was never going to be all sunshine and rainbows, with the team going through a rebuild after the departure of basketball royalty Sue Bird and long-time feature Breanna Stewart. Seattle currently sit fifth in the West and 10^th in the league with a record of 9-21, but they are on a two-game win streak with a chance to extend it to a season-high 3 games tonight against the Minnesota Lynx.

Even though there hasn’t been a ton of sun poking through the storm clouds, Nurse has provided a bright spot mainly just by being present. She’s played in every game, starting in two-thirds of them, something that wasn’t a guarantee given the injury she’s rebounding from. Prior to the start of the 2023 WNBA season, she had not played since the 2021 semifinals after suffering a torn ACL. As Nurse continues to build back from injury, Canadian fans can be excited about watching one of their stars grow into a leadership role perhaps for the first time in her career in the league.

Bridget Carlton, F, Minnesota Lynx (Chatham-Kent, Ontario)

Moving on to the Canadian who’s gotten the rare opportunity to play WNBA basketball on home soil, Bridget Carlton. The Lynx made the memorable pre-season stop in Toronto in May and have since gone on to a 14-16 record, good enough to sit third in the West and sixth in the league. The Lynx have been inconsistent at best as of late and will be in tough against a motivated Storm squad tonight who are looking for a season long three-game win streak.

For Carlton herself, she’s been a welcome presence off the bench for Minnesota this season, contributing an average of just under 14 minutes a night. Her length and agility make her a nightmare for opponents looking to put up a coordinated attack given her ability to be disruptive while guarding different positions. She’s tied for fifth on the team in rebounds and tied for third in both assists and steals. Carlton is sure to be a key contributor off the bench for the Lynx down the stretch with her energy and dynamism a guarantee to entertain Canadians and WNBA fans everywhere.

It should also be mentioned that the Lynx are also home to three-time Canadian Olympian, Natalie Achonwa, who has yet to feature this season after giving birth to her son earlier this spring.

Laeticia Amihere, F, Atlanta Dream (Mississauga, ON)

The newest member of the WNBA’s Canada Club is none other than 2023’s eight overall pick, Laeticia Amihere. The Mississauga native made the world pay attention while featuring heavily for Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks in the NCAA over her college career. The Dream clearly liked what they saw, taking the forward early in this year’s draft and featuring her off the bench while building their 15-16 record. Atlanta sits third in the East and fifth in the league with a tilt against Chicago on the docket this evening that could see them get to .500 on the season.

As for Amihere, she’s averaging just shy of eight minutes in her rookie campaign, with that total sure to grow as she acclimates to the new league. Her ability to guard anyone from anywhere coupled with her experience running the floor in transition have certainly set her up for a bright future in the WNBA. More importantly, her skills have made her a sure-fire feature of the next generation of Canadian basketball. Amihere will continue to be a valuable bench player for Atlanta as they make their playoff push with fans eager to see if she can account for a bigger share of minutes amidst the rotation.

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With two of the three teams featuring Canadians looking to make a playoff push, the final month of the season is sure to deliver a multitude of must-see moments. You can catch the action on WNBA League Pass or on TSN, with their schedule of featured games. Which member of the Canada Club are you most excited to watch over this home stretch?