Kia Nurse Signs With Chicago Sky
The buzz surrounding seven-year WNBA veteran Kia Nurse has grown ahead of her Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball debut later this week. The 6-foot guard ended her WNBA free agency by signing a deal with the Chicago Sky for the 2025 season and will make the move to Chi-Town to play under first-year head coach Tyler Marsh.
This new chapter for the Hamilton, Ontario native follows the conclusion of her stint with the Los Angeles Sparks, where she appeared in 40 games, made 27 starts, and averaged 7.6 points per game during the 2024 season. Nurse previously suited up for the Seattle Storm in 2023 after a one-year spell with the Phoenix Mercury in 2021, and began her pro career with the New York Liberty, where she made 89 appearances and 59 starts from 2018 to 2020.
“Having another veteran leader to add to our roster is invaluable,” Sky General Manager Jeff Pagliocca said in the team’s press release. “Her consistency from beyond the arc and added versatility at the guard position will complement our team very well. Kia has a toughness, grit, and competitive nature that we are looking for here.”
Nurse first made a name for herself at UConn, where she was a staple in the Huskies’ lineup for all four years of her collegiate career and helped capture two NCAA titles. She earned American Athletic Conference honors after each of her four seasons, including Freshman of the Year in 2016 and AAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2018.
The WNBA is not the only stage where Nurse has showcased her talents since being drafted 10th overall by the Liberty. She has been named to three Olympic rosters, representing Canada at the 2016 Rio Games, the 2020 Tokyo Games, and the 2024 Paris Games. She also competed for her home country in three FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cups in 2014, 2018, and 2022.
Nurse’s signing with the Sky is just one of several moves made by the team during the free agency period. Chicago also acquired wing Rebecca Allen from the Connecticut Sun in exchange for guard Lindsay Allen this weekend. The moves followed the signing of veteran guard Courtney Vandersloot and marks the Sky’s efforts to improve upon its last-place Eastern Conference finish in 2024.
Before springing into action in the Windy City, Nurse is set to make her first AU Pro Basketball appearance in Nashville this week, with play set to start on Wednesday, Feb. 5.
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