Kayla Alexander

Last updated
Kayla Alexander
Kayla Alexander 50.jpg
No. 40Valencia Basket
Position Centre
League Liga Femenina
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1991-01-05) January 5, 1991 (age 33)
Milton, Ontario, Canada
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight186 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school Milton District (Milton, Ontario)
College Syracuse (2009–2013)
WNBA draft 2013: 1st round, 8th overall pick
Selected by the San Antonio Silver Stars
Playing career2013–present
Career history
20132017 San Antonio Stars
2015–2016 WBC Sparta&K
2016–2017 CJM Bourges Basket
2017–2018 Samsung Life Blueminx
2018 Indiana Fever
2018–2019 Adelaide Lightning
2019 Chicago Sky
2019–2020 Arka Gdynia
2020 Minnesota Lynx
2020–2021 BC Castors Braine
2021–2022 ASVEL Féminin
2022–2024 Tango Bourges Basket
2024–present Valencia Basket
Career highlights and awards
Stats at WNBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
FIBA AmeriCup
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2019 Puerto Rico
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2023 León

Kayla Janine Alexander (born January 5, 1991) is a Canadian professional basketball player for Valencia Basket of the Liga Femenina de Baloncesto and the EuroLeague. She played college basketball for the Syracuse Orange. [1] After a successful career with the Orange, Alexander was drafted with the eighth overall pick in the 2013 WNBA draft by the San Antonio Stars.

Contents

College career

Alexander played collegiately at Syracuse University from 2010 to 2013. After her four years, she was the school’s all-time leader in points (2,024), blocks (350), field goals (736), free throws made (552), free throws attempted (750) and games played (140). [2] She became the second player from Syracuse to be selected in a WNBA draft. [3]

Alexander's No. 40 jersey was retired by Syracuse University on December 8th, 2024. [2] [4]

WNBA career

Alexander was drafted eighth in the 2013 WNBA draft by the San Antonio Stars. Since her rookie season, she's been a reserve center on the Stars' roster and a key contributor in rebounding. In the 2016 season, she averaged career-highs in scoring and rebounding with 8.0 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game. In 2017, Alexander re-signed with the Stars in free agency. [5]

On February 1, 2018, Alexander was traded by the re-branded Las Vegas Aces along with a third-round pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft to the Indiana Fever in exchange for their second-round selection in the 2019 WNBA Draft. [6]

Overseas career

In the 2015-16 WNBA off-season, Alexander played in Russia for WBC Sparta&K. In August 2016, Alexander signed a short-term deal with CJM Bourges Basket of the Ligue Féminine de Basketball for the 2016-17 WNBA off-season. [7]

In early 2020, she signed with Arka Gdynia of the Basket Liga Kobiet , but returned to Canada that March due to the cancellation of the season at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. [8]

On May 23, 2024, Alexander signed with Liga Femenina club Valencia, for the upcoming 2024–25 season. [9]

Personal life

Alexander said she wanted to become a teacher once she retires from basketball. [10] Her brother, Kyle played for the Miami Heat.

In 2019, Alexander wrote and illustrated a children's book, The Magic of Basketball. [11] Her sister, Kesia, is credited as co-author. [12] [13]

Alexander is a devout Christian and frequently posts about her faith on social media. [14]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold Career best°League leader

College

YearTeamGPFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2009-10 Syracuse 3654.2%0.0%70.1%4.80.10.61.910.8
2010-11 Syracuse 3554.9%0.0%76.6%6.90.00.72.614.8
2011-12 Syracuse 3749.5%0.0%74.7%7.50.30.62.614.8
2012-13 Syracuse 3251.8%0.0%72.6%8.70.30.62.917.9
Career14052.3%0.0%73.6%6.90.20.62.514.5

Source [15]

WNBA

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2013 San Antonio 33111.2.417.000.7333.00.30.10.41.12.8
2014 San Antonio 3309.0.434.000.8392.00.20.10.30.72.8
2015 San Antonio 29012.3.416.000.6473.30.20.20.80.83.3
2016 San Antonio 25019.6.546.000.7544.50.50.40.51.18.0
2017 San Antonio 341015.4.582.000.9093.10.50.40.50.96.2
2018 Indiana 3008.6.541.000.8242.20.20.10.30.62.7
2019 Chicago 306.7.750.000.7502.30.30.00.00.33.0
2020 Minnesota 1605.6.533.000.6250.90.20.10.20.42.3
Career8 years, 4 teams2031111.8.508.000.7632.80.30.20.40.84.0

Playoffs

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2014 San Antonio 101.0.000.000.0000.00.00.00.00.00.0
2019 Chicago 201.51.000.000.0001.00.00.00.00.02.0
Career2 years, 2 teams301.91.000.000.0000.70.00.00.00.01.3

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeLisha Milton-Jones</span> American basketball player (born 1974)

DeLisha Lachell Milton-Jones is an American retired professional basketball player and head coach of Old Dominion. Milton-Jones played college basketball for the University of Florida. She was a first-team All-American and SEC Player of the Year her senior season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ann Wauters</span> Belgian basketball player (born 1980)

Ann Hilde Willy Wauters is a Belgian former professional basketball player and coach, most recently serving as an assistant coach for the Chicago Sky in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played for numerous American and European professional teams, including the Cleveland Rockers, US Valenciennes Olympic, and the San Antonio Silver Stars. She won four EuroLeague championships and one WNBA Finals during her career. Her primary position was center.

Sandora Lavett Irvin is an American professional basketball player for the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was waived by the San Antonio Silver Stars in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evanthia Maltsi</span> Greek basketball player (born 1978)

Evanthia "Evina" Maltsi is a Greek former professional basketball guard. In 2007, she played for Connecticut Sun in the WNBA, appearing in 29 games, 26 in the regular season and 3 in the playoffs. A three time Euroleague All-Star (2007–2009), Maltsi has a long career in European club basketball, having played in Spain, France, Czech Republic, Poland and Turkey besides her native Greece and she has won numerous titles as a player of CJM Bourges, Ros Casares Valencia, USK Praha and Olympiacos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alba Torrens</span> Spanish basketball player

Alba Torrens Salom is a Spanish female basketball player at the small forward position. She is currently captain of Valencia Basket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julie Wojta</span> American basketball player (born 1989)

Julie Nicole Wojta is an American basketball player for ASVEL Féminin of the Liga Femenina (LFB). Wojta played college basketball at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, where she was a Wade Trophy and Wooden Award finalist, Horizon League tournament MVP, and a second-team All-America pick. Wojta was the first Green Bay resident to be selected in a WNBA draught and to be included on an Associated Press All-American team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kayla McBride</span> American basketball player (born 1992)

Kayla Renae McBride is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was drafted third overall by the San Antonio Stars in the 2014 WNBA draft. McBride played shooting guard for Notre Dame, where she led the Fighting Irish to four consecutive Final Fours and three NCAA championship appearances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Markeisha Gatling</span> American basketball player (born 1992)

Markeisha Gatling is an American and Montenegrin professional basketball player for Casademont Zaragoza of Spanish Liga Femenina.

Leticia Romero González is a Spanish basketball player from Agüimes who plays for Valencia Basket and the Spain women's national basketball team. She played three years in the Spain's top-tier league before spending her U.S. college career with Kansas State and Florida State. She played the 2018 WNBA season with the Dallas Wings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jazmon Gwathmey</span> Puerto Rican basketball player (born 1993)

Jazmon Chameli Gwathmey is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player for Lointek Gernika Bizkaia of the Liga Femenina de Baloncesto. She played for Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonquel Jones</span> Bahamian basketball player (born 1994)

Jonquel Orthea Jones is a Bahamian professional basketball player for the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for Sichuan Yuanda of the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA). She was drafted with the sixth overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft. Since May 2019, she also holds the citizenship of Bosnia and Herzegovina, allowing her to play for the national team.

Brittanny Dinkins is an American professional basketball player. She played college basketball for Southern Mississippi where she was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-Tournament Team in 2017. Following her college career, she went on to play professionally in Iceland where she was named the Icelandic Cup MVP in 2018 and the Úrvalsdeild Foreign Player of the Year in 2019. The same year, she won the Chilean League championship with Colegio Los Leones Quilpe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nikolina Milić</span> Serbian basketball player (born 1994)

Nikolina Milić is a Serbian professional basketball center for Fenerbahçe of the Women's Basketball Super League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Alexander</span> Canadian basketball player (born 1996)

Kyle John Solomon Alexander is a Canadian professional basketball player for Türk Telekom of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL). He played college basketball for the Tennessee Volunteers.

Lauren Elizabeth Cox is an American professional basketball player for Virtus Bologna (Italy). She played college basketball for the Baylor Lady Bears. She was named a preseason All-American by Lindy's Sports, Athlon Sports, and Street & Smith prior to the 2019 season beginning. In November 2019, ESPN ranked Cox as the second-best collegiate women's basketball player in the country behind Sabrina Ionescu. She would be named Big 12 Player of the Year that season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leonie Fiebich</span> German basketball player (born 2000)

Leonie Fiebich is a German professional basketball player for the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks in the second round of the 2020 WNBA draft and has played for the German national basketball team.

Alexis Ganay Peterson is an American-German basketball combo guard who currently plays for CCC Polkowice of the Basket Liga Kobiet. A former ACC Player of the Year at Syracuse, she was drafted by the Seattle Storm with the 15th overall pick of the 2017 WNBA draft. She played for the German national basketball team at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raquel Carrera</span> Spanish basketball player

Raquel Carrera Quintana is a Spanish professional basketball player for Valencia Basket of the Liga Femenina in Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arella Guirantes</span> American basketball player (born 1997)

Arella Karin Guirantes is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player for CB Avenida of the Liga Femenina de Baloncesto. She played college basketball at Texas Tech and Rutgers. She was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and most recently played in the league for the Seattle Storm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helena Pueyo</span> Spanish basketball player (born 2001)

Helena Pueyo is a Spanish basketball player for the Basket Zaragoza of Liga ACB. She is also a player for the Spanish women's national team. She played college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats.

References

  1. "Canadian Champion (Milton, ON), 29 Jul 2009, p. 12". news.milton.halinet.on.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  2. 1 2 Alumkal, Nicholas (5 December 2024). "Kayla Alexander's jersey retirement honors trailblazing career". The Daily Orange . Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  3. "Silver Stars Select Kayla Alexander with the No. 8 Pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft". NBA.com. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  4. "Kayla Alexander's Jersey to be Raised in JMA Dome Rafters". Syracuse University Athletics (Press release). 25 October 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  5. "Stars Re-Sign Kayla Alexander - WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA". WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA. Retrieved 2017-08-30.
  6. "Indiana Fever Acquire Kayla Alexander in Trade With Las Vegas". WNBA.com. February 1, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  7. "2016-2017 WNBA Overseas Signings - Women's Basketball 24.7". Women's Basketball 24.7. 2016-08-22. Archived from the original on 2017-09-30. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  8. Dichter, Myles (18 March 2020). "Canadian athletes scramble to return home". CBC. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  9. "Kayla Alexander, a top-notch addition for Valencia Basket". www.valenciabasket.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  10. "WBB: Center Kayla Alexander Drafted 8th". Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician . Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  11. "Canadian Champion (Milton, ON), 12 Sep 2019, p. 30". news.milton.halinet.on.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  12. Nichols, Paula; Cseplo, Simone (September 8, 2020). "Kayla Alexander and The Magic of Basketball September 8, 2020". Olympic.ca. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  13. Loung, Steven (1 July 2020). "Q&A: Kayla Alexander on playing for Canada, writing her children's book". Sportsnet.ca. Rogers. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  14. "28 Christian Athletes to Cheer On at the Paris 2024 Olympics". Christianity Today. July 24, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  15. "NCAA Statistics". web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved 2017-08-28.