Welcome to the 2018 Rookie Report. This initial set of posts will give a brief outlook on members of the 2018 WNBA draft class.
We will discuss the answers these players provide to their new teams along with questions that will need to be answered for them to maximize their potential as a player. We’ll close with thoughts on what will need to happen for each player to get some playing time and offer thoughts on what you should be looking forward right away as you tune in on League Pass. (Advanced stats obtained via HerHoopStats. Read their glossary here.)
Kia Nurse
Round 1, Pick 10 – New York Liberty
Age: 22 – Height: 6’0 – Position: Guard/Wing
2017-18 stats at UConn:
Head coach Katie Smith added yet another 3-and-D player late in the first round as her team gears up to make a deep playoff run with superstar forward Tina Charles still in her prime.
Answers she provides
- Reliable three-point shooting
- Excellent off-ball and help defender
Questions looking forward
- Continuing to be a stout on ball defender in a more open floor
- Finding the next play when run off the three-point line
- Making enough shots right away from the midrange when left open
Path to playing time
Nurse is another big guard brought on just in time as the Liberty have added veteran Marissa Coleman, who will enable them to go small more often. That shift will open up more minutes on the perimeter.
One thing to watch right now
Which defensive assignments is she drawing? Nurse smothered opposing guards constantly in college, often keeping them from touching the ball altogether. Pros don’t have as much trouble going to get the ball and initiating their own offense. With other solid perimeter defenders on this roster, it will be interesting to see if Nurse draws a specific player type more often than others in her rookie season.