LOS ANGELES — Jordyn Canada mentioned she want to re-sign with the Sparks if the chance offered itself when the WNBA’s free company interval begins Saturday at 9 p.m. PT.
“In fact,” mentioned Canada, who was born and raised in Los Angeles. “That is the place I’m. It is at all times been my dream to play for LA and I obtained this chance final yr. God keen, I am going to be capable to keep one other yr with LA however you by no means know what can occur so I am letting the chance current itself with each What occurs in free company, whether or not it is in LA, whether or not it is elsewhere. I am simply attempting to discover my choices however ultimately I am from LA, so I like to remain in LA.”
The 27-year-old former Windward Excessive and UCLA star, Canada, was the fifth general decide within the 2018 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm. She helped the Storm win WNBA championships in 2018 and 2020 and earned a spot on the 2019 WNBA All-Defensive First Group. She signed a one-year take care of the Sparks this previous February.
The 5-foot-6 level guard began 25 of the 32 video games she performed for the Sparks final season. She averaged 9.2 factors, 5.5 assists, and 1.4 steals in 27 minutes per sport for a Sparks group that posted the second-to-worst file (13-23) within the 12-team league and didn’t qualify for the playoffs.
“It was a kind of seasons the place we needed to battle,” Canada mentioned. “We went by way of a whole lot of adversity final yr, a whole lot of shifting round with the coaches and issues like that, and I believe we did our greatest on the finish of the day. We fought till the tip. We have been there. We have been solely two video games out of the playoffs, so actually, regardless of what we have been by way of With it, I believe we’re nonetheless combating onerous. We’re nonetheless taking part in onerous. It is simply been a kind of seasons the place you undergo a whole lot of issues. I believe we ended up doing our greatest in order that’s all I can say.”
Limitless potentialities
The 2023 WNBA season would not begin till Could 19, however offseason transactions are in full swing forward of February 1, which is the day gamers can formally signal contracts and supply rosters.
Jonkel Jones, MVP of 2021 has already landed with the New York Liberty in an enormous three-team commerce. Former first-round draft picks Jasmine Thomas, Alesha Grey and Natasha Howard – additionally traded, and everyone seems to be ready to see the place 2018 MVP Breanna Stewart, largely seen as the most effective free agent, finally ends up.
Canada is an unrestricted free agent, which means she is free to barter a brand new contract with any WNBA group beginning Saturday evening.
“I need to go someplace the place I can carry out and play and have the chance to point out my management and my development over the previous two years,” she mentioned. “I simply need to have enjoyable and compete and play onerous. That is what I am searching for and to have a relationship with my teammates on and off the sphere as effectively and to have a relationship with the coaches, in order that’s actually crucial factor for me. I am wanting ahead to having the possibility to point out that.”
Canada mentioned the previous two years have been actually “loopy” in the case of participant motion – by way of trades or free companies – throughout the league.
“I at all times type of count on one thing loopy to occur and we’re actually off to begin with the trades which were occurring up to now,” Canada mentioned. “It is attention-grabbing to see the gamers transfer and what the groups are going to seem like, so I already know this free company goes to be very attention-grabbing. It has been actually attention-grabbing so I take it for what it’s and that is just about it.”
Canada thinks their newly acquired Jasmine Thomas is a good addition to Sparks.
“I do know Kurt (Miller) and Jase (Lee Thomas) have an awesome relationship with one another. They have been with one another (a number of) years and he or she’s an enormous asset to the group,” Canada added. “She’s an awesome worth. She will be able to play protection. She’s an awesome chief so I do know she’ll add a whole lot of worth to the Sparks. I am so comfortable for her and excited to have her in LA, and I do know she’s popping out of damage so I am actually excited to have her again, and I am glad she’s again.” capable of get an opportunity to play in L.A. and in addition proceed taking part in with Curt.”
Heading into its sixth WNBA season, Canada believes it has the expertise and expertise to be a full-time starter.
“I believe at this level in my profession, I really feel very assured in myself that I can begin and begin and be a frontrunner on a group,” she mentioned. “I used to be taking part in behind one of many best level guards (Sue Fowl) and I discovered from her for the primary 4 years of my profession. Then final yr, as I obtained out and in of the lineup, I believe up to now in my profession, all I’ve discovered and skilled is being a starter.” And I am taken off the bench, I really feel very assured that I can take part and I can lead a group and be a starter.”
NBA ACADEMY Girls’s Program
Canada mentioned it first realized basketball was a world sport in highschool. That is when she actually began absorbing the native and worldwide alternatives to play skilled basketball, and now she’s returning the favor.
Canada joined fellow WNBA gamers Ariel Atkins and Danielle Robinson earlier this week to mentor and develop teenage ladies on the 2023 NBA Academy Girls’s Camp Latin America in Mexico, which introduced collectively among the high excessive school-age prospects from nations throughout Latin America, the Sea Area Caribbean and Canada.
“I am comfortable to see the expansion (within the younger gamers),” Canada defined throughout a digital interview from Mexico. “Their smiles, at all times keen to study and (they) take what we are saying and actually apply it to scuffles and coaching, so what we’re doing right here is actually particular.
“Some guys decide issues up quicker than others. I do not assume it is essentially a foul factor. Everybody learns at a special tempo so it is only a matter of the individual and the person and the way they’ll decide issues up shortly. Right here at camp there have been a whole lot of ladies who have been actually excessive sufficient Sufficient they usually simply take the little issues we are saying, whether or not it is footwork dealing with, whether or not it is higher move dealing with, whether or not it is your little pocketbook. Sooner. They’re capable of catch it actually quick. These ladies are tremendous gifted.”
Canada mentioned that engaged on a global growth camp is additional motivation for it to begin internet hosting its personal youth basketball camps “Jordyn Canada Academy” sooner or later in her hometown.
“That is the objective sooner or later,” Canada continued. “I need to get one thing like that out within the states and hopefully I am fortunate sufficient to do one thing worldwide (too). I’ve really been interested by it for the previous few years, so I hope it pays off. That is on my radar.”
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