劲爆大瓜

EDMONTON 鈥� Canadian Kia Nurse had some nerves entering Saturday's WNBA pre-season contest at Rogers Place.

The Hamilton native and Canadian national team star had nine points in 19 minutes of action as her Los Angeles Sparks held on to beat the Seattle Storm 84-79 in front of 16,655 fans.

鈥淚 was nervous before, in all honesty,鈥� Nurse said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a lot people, and I spent a lot of time building my career here in Canada, from the jump all the way through high school. And to be in an arena that is filled for a WNBA game on Canadian soil is not something you put on your dream board as a kid.

鈥淪o to be in this situation now, to see how things have changed, and how it鈥檚 propelling women鈥檚 sports forward, and particularly in Canada, it鈥檚 really, really special.鈥�

As the only Canadian on the floor, Nurse received the loudest roar during pre-game introductions. She gave a short pre-game speech to the crowd before the game.

Sparks coach Curt Miller said his team called a set play right off the jump ball that would try to get the ball in Nurse鈥檚 hands so she could score the first points of the game. While Nurse missed from three-point range, he said the way she handled the pressure was special.

鈥淚鈥檓 just really proud of her,鈥� said Miller. 鈥淚鈥檓 unbelievably connected with their family. Kia looked confident. We ran the first play because we wanted her to score the first basket here in Canada.聽

"I know it was such an emotional night for her. It was truly special for her. She鈥檚 the face of their national team.鈥�

It was the second straight season a WNBA exhibition game took place and sold out in Canada. Saturday's contest followed a sellout game at Toronto鈥檚 Scotiabank Arena in 2023.聽

Reports have said Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment chairman Larry Tanenbaum aims to secure a Toronto franchise ahead of the 2025 season.

鈥淐anada wants a WNBA team,鈥� said Nurse. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 very evident. It鈥檚 been something they鈥檝e been basically screaming at the top of their lungs for.鈥�

Nurse鈥檚 sentiments were echoed by her American WNBA compatriots.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 amazing,鈥� said Storm guard Joyner Holmes, who finished with 13 points. 鈥淢y journey鈥檚 a little different, I鈥檝e been cut from teams. So to be adding teams and roster spots will help those who鈥檝e had experiences like mine 鈥� And expanding to places like this? It鈥檚 going to be lit.鈥�

鈥淲e鈥檙e adding Golden State next year, so we鈥檙e going to have 13 (teams),鈥� said Skylar Diggins-Smith, who paced the Storm with 14 points and five assists. 鈥淪o it would be nice to get to an even number of teams.鈥�

Diggins-Smith said Storm players 鈥渨ere screaming our lungs out so we could communicate with each other.鈥�

Dearica Hamby led the Sparks with 17 points, nine rebounds and five assists.聽

Cameron Brink, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, scored her first basket as a member of the Sparks halfway through the first quarter.

Brink, who finished with 11 points, hit her first three-pointer 1:30 into the third quarter. The centre earned a large ovation for her rejection of Jade Melbourne鈥檚 layup attempt later in the second half.聽

With the Sparks leading 82-79 in the final minutes, the Storm had two chances to tie. But Melbourne air-balled her three-point attempt, and Kiana Williams鈥檚 three-point shot rimmed out.聽

Nia Clouden hit two late free throws to ice the game for Los Angeles.

On Saturday morning, the two teams conducted their shootarounds while the NHL's Edmonton Oilers were on the ice at the Downtown Community Arena, which is part of the Rogers Place complex.聽

As Nurse saw the Oilers coming off the ice, they shared embraces. Her brother is Edmonton defenceman Darnell Nurse, who was courtside on Saturday night with his family.

Kia Nurse said Edmonton is a special place for her because it鈥檚 the home base for the Canadian women鈥檚 national team and is also an Oilers fan.

鈥淭his is a really special arena," she said. "I鈥檝e been able to see Darnell play quite a few games here and to be able to have him and his kids come to the game today, that鈥檚 really special because I don鈥檛 get to see them as often since they鈥檙e always here when I鈥檓 home and vice versa."

NOTES: The game began with a moment of silence for murdered and missing Indigenous women. Elder Myrna Yellowbird of the Samson Cree Nations offered a prayer. ... The WNBA has played two other pre-season games outside of the United States, in Monterrey, Mexico (2004) and Manchester, England (2011).

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 4, 2024.

Steven Sandor, The Canadian Press