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.
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| No. 40 – Valencia Basket | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Position | Centre | |||||||||||||||||
| League | Liga Femenina EuroLeague | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||
| Born | January 5, 1991 Milton, Ontario, Canada | |||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | |||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 186 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 career | 2013–present | |||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2017 | 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 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Stats at WNBA.com | ||||||||||||||||||
| Stats at Basketball Reference | ||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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College career
editAlexander 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 8, 2024.[2][4]
WNBA career
editAlexander 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
editIn 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
editAlexander 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
edit| GP | Games 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
edit| Year | Team | GP | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-10 | Syracuse | 36 | 54.2% | 0.0% | 70.1% | 4.8 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 10.8 |
| 2010-11 | Syracuse | 35 | 54.9% | 0.0% | 76.6% | 6.9 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 14.8 |
| 2011-12 | Syracuse | 37 | 49.5% | 0.0% | 74.7% | 7.5 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 14.8 |
| 2012-13 | Syracuse | 32 | 51.8% | 0.0% | 72.6% | 8.7 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 17.9 |
| Career | 140 | 52.3% | 0.0% | 73.6% | 6.9 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 14.5 |
Source[15]
WNBA
editRegular season
edit| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | San Antonio | 33 | 1 | 11.2 | .417 | .000 | .733 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 2.8 |
| 2014 | San Antonio | 33 | 0 | 9.0 | .434 | .000 | .839 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 2.8 |
| 2015 | San Antonio | 29 | 0 | 12.3 | .416 | .000 | .647 | 3.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 3.3 |
| 2016 | San Antonio | 25 | 0 | 19.6 | .546 | .000 | .754 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 8.0 |
| 2017 | San Antonio | 34 | 10 | 15.4 | .582 | .000 | .909 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 6.2 |
| 2018 | Indiana | 30 | 0 | 8.6 | .541 | .000 | .824 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 2.7 |
| 2019 | Chicago | 3 | 0 | 6.7 | .750 | .000 | .750 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 3.0 |
| 2020 | Minnesota | 16 | 0 | 5.6 | .533 | .000 | .625 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 2.3 |
| Career | 8 years, 4 teams | 203 | 11 | 11.8 | .508 | .000 | .763 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 4.0 |
Playoffs
edit| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | San Antonio | 1 | 0 | 1.0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 2019 | Chicago | 2 | 0 | 1.5 | 1.000 | .000 | .000 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| Career | 2 years, 2 teams | 3 | 0 | 1.9 | 1.000 | .000 | .000 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 |
References
edit- ^ "Canadian Champion (Milton, ON), 29 Jul 2009, p. 12". news.milton.halinet.on.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ a b Alumkal, Nicholas (5 December 2024). "Kayla Alexander's jersey retirement honors trailblazing career". The Daily Orange. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- ^ "Silver Stars Select Kayla Alexander with the No. 8 Pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft". NBA.com. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
- ^ "Kayla Alexander's Jersey to be Raised in JMA Dome Rafters". Syracuse University Athletics (Press release). 25 October 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- ^ "Stars Re-Sign Kayla Alexander - WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA". WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA. Retrieved 2017-08-30.
- ^ "Indiana Fever Acquire Kayla Alexander in Trade With Las Vegas". WNBA.com. February 1, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Dichter, Myles (18 March 2020). "Canadian athletes scramble to return home". CBC. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
- ^ "Kayla Alexander, a top-notch addition for Valencia Basket". www.valenciabasket.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ^ "WBB: Center Kayla Alexander Drafted 8th". Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
- ^ "Canadian Champion (Milton, ON), 12 Sep 2019, p. 30". news.milton.halinet.on.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ Nichols, Paula; Cseplo, Simone (September 8, 2020). "Kayla Alexander and The Magic of Basketball September 8, 2020". Olympic.ca. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "28 Christian Athletes to Cheer On at the Paris 2024 Olympics". Christianity Today. July 24, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ "NCAA Statistics". web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved 2017-08-28.