LOS ANGELES — Jordyn Canada stated she wish to re-sign with the Sparks if the chance introduced itself when the WNBA’s free company interval begins Saturday at 9 p.m. PT.
“After all,” stated Canada, who was born and raised in Los Angeles. “That is the place I’m. It is all the time been my dream to play for LA and I acquired this chance final 12 months. God keen, I am going to be capable of keep one other 12 months 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 someplace else. 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 recreation 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 type of seasons the place we needed to combat,” Canada stated. “We went by way of a variety of adversity final 12 months, a variety 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 truthfully, regardless of what we have been by way of With it, I believe we’re nonetheless preventing laborious. We’re nonetheless enjoying laborious. It is simply been a type of seasons the place you undergo a variety 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 provide rosters.
Jonkel Jones, MVP of 2021 has already landed with the New York Liberty in a large 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 one of the best free agent, finally ends up.
Canada is an unrestricted free agent, that means she is free to barter a brand new contract with any WNBA group beginning Saturday evening.
“I wish to go someplace the place I can carry out and play and have the chance to indicate my management and my progress over the previous two years,” she stated. “I simply wish to have enjoyable and compete and play laborious. That is what I am on the lookout 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 indicate that.”
Canada stated the previous two years have been actually “loopy” relating to participant motion – by way of trades or free businesses – throughout the league.
“I all the time sort of anticipate one thing loopy to occur and we’re actually off to begin with the trades which were taking place to this point,” Canada stated. “It is attention-grabbing to see the gamers transfer and what the groups are going to appear to be, 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 a terrific relationship with one another. They have been with one another (a number of) years and she or he’s an enormous asset to the group,” Canada added. “She’s a terrific worth. She will play protection. She’s a terrific chief so I do know she’ll add a variety of worth to the Sparks. I am so pleased for her and excited to have her in LA, and I do know she’s popping out of harm so I am actually excited to have her again, and I am glad she’s again.” in a position to get an opportunity to play in L.A. and likewise proceed enjoying 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 pacesetter on a group,” she stated. “I used to be enjoying behind one of many biggest level guards (Sue Chicken) and I discovered from her for the primary 4 years of my profession. Then final 12 months, as I acquired out and in of the lineup, I believe to this point 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 Ladies’s Program
Canada stated it first realized basketball was a worldwide recreation 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 Ladies’s Camp Latin America in Mexico, which introduced collectively among the high excessive school-age prospects from international locations throughout Latin America, the Sea Area Caribbean and Canada.
“I am pleased to see the expansion (within the younger gamers),” Canada defined throughout a digital interview from Mexico. “Their smiles, all the time 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 admittedly particular.
“Some guys decide issues up sooner than others. I do not suppose it is essentially a foul factor. Everybody learns at a unique tempo so it is only a matter of the individual and the person and the way they’ll decide issues up rapidly. Right here at camp there have been a variety of ladies who have been actually excessive sufficient Sufficient and so they simply take the little issues we are saying, whether or not it is footwork dealing with, whether or not it is higher cross dealing with, whether or not it is your little pocketbook. Sooner. They’re in a position to catch it actually quick. These ladies are tremendous gifted.”
Canada stated that engaged on a global growth camp is additional motivation for it to start out internet hosting its personal youth basketball camps “Jordyn Canada Academy” sooner or later in her hometown.
“That is the aim sooner or later,” Canada continued. “I wish to get one thing like that out within the states and hopefully I am fortunate sufficient to do one thing worldwide (too). I’ve truly been serious about it for the previous few years, so hopefully it pays off. That is on my radar.”
2023 WNBA Free Company: Sparks GM Karen Bryant and Coach Kurt Miller push for ‘sustainable success’