Canadian basketball player combines love of sport, teaching and children to publish book
February 19, 2020
‘Sometimes you have to go backwards before you go forward’ tweeted Canadian basketball forward Kayla Alexander last September after suffering a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury in a warm-up contest against the United States prior to the Women’s World Cup in Spain.
Setting a screen in transition, her knee bent the wrong way after making hard contact with an opposing player.
Though surgery wasn’t required, the Syracuse University graduate was unsure she would be fully fit to represent her country in this month’s Olympic qualifying tournament in Belgium.
“I was apprehensive about whether I would be back to full health and be in a position to help the team,” Alexander, who celebrated her 29th birthday on January 5, admitted.
With a positive attitude and assists from her medical team, she made a full recovery and played a leading role in helping Canada qualify for the Tokyo Summer Olympics.
Ranked an all-time best fourth in the world, the national team was unbeaten in the qualifier, beating host country Belgium 61-56, Sweden 80-50 and Japan 70-68.
Kayla Alexander made a strong return to the Canadian line-up after injury
While delighted with the result, Alexander was more thrilled to be back on the court playing since September 28.
“In life, you’re going to get knocked down, you’re going to face obstacles, setbacks, and heartbreak,” she said. “It’s inevitable. How you respond in those moments will define who you are.”
Though playing for Canada at the junior level in 2008 and 2009, it took Alexander seven years to crack the senior line-up.
Told to work on her game after tryouts in 2012 and 2016, she was called up last year for the Women’s World Cup.
“I was in shock when I found out I made the team because I was used to hearing ‘no’,” Alexander recounted. “But the initial shock quickly faded to joy. Also, the past rejections made me much more appreciative of the opportunity to represent Canada.”
The eldest of three siblings has come a long way after being introduced to the sport at age 12 when she acquiesced to Andrew Hunter Elementary School classmate Nicole Murphy’s request to accompany her to Barrie Royals tryouts.
“I was 5’8” and Nikki said ‘you are tall and you should come with me’,” she said. “I was terrible in the beginning, but the coaches said ‘we can’t teach height, but we can teach you how to play’. They gave me a chance and I never looked back.”
A member of Team Ontario 2008 national championship team, the Milton District High School graduate chose Syracuse over the University of Illinois.
Those were the only two universities that Alexander, who was inducted into the Milton Walk of Fame last year, visited.
“I was very shy back then and I didn’t enjoy the recruiting process,” she related. “The Syracuse coaching staff, however, made me feel comfortable, the university is just about four hours from my home and they had a good basketball and academic program.”
Kayla Alexander with sister Kesia (l) & their parents Joe and Audrey at the Milton Walk of Fame ceremony last year
In her freshman season, Alexander led Syracuse in blocks with 69 and was the third leading scorer with 10.8 points a game. She also made the Big East All-Freshman team.
By the time her collegiate career ended in 2013 at 140 games, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies Education, transformed the program to a nationally-ranked team and was the university’s leader in points, blocks, field goals, made free throws, free throws attempted and games played.
In Alexander’s final season, Syracuse advanced to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament for the fifth time and their 24-8 record was the best in the university’s history. Her cohort also set a school record with 96 victories in four years.
In being drafted eighth by the San Antonio Silver Stars in the 2013 Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft, she became the first Syracuse graduate to be selected in the first round.
Averaging 4.0 points and 3.1 rebounds in 12.6 minutes over 120 games in her first four seasons, Alexander – who played in the Soviet Union and France in 2015 and 2016 during the WNBA off-season -- was re-signed by San Antonio in February 2017 and traded a year later by the rebranded Las Vegas Aces along with a third round pick in the 2019 draft to the Indiana Fever.
Waived by the Fever in May 2019 after 30 games, she joined the Chicago Sky last September.
Though having fun playing basketball, Alexander is already planning for life after retirement.
“I want to stay around the sport in some capacity,” she noted. “I just love teaching and working with kids.”
Alexander isn’t the only member of her family to play hoops at a high level.
Younger brother Kyle, who was a classmate of Denver Nuggets guard Jamaal Murray for two years at the Athlete Institute in Orangeville, graduated from the University of Tennessee last year and was on the Southeastern Conference (SEC) First-Year Academic Honour roll in his freshman season.
The 23-year-old 6’ 10” power forward is with the Miami Heat G-League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
Their father, Joseph – an Eastern Commerce Collegiate Institute graduate and retired Ontario Provincial Police officer – was an outstanding player at Niagara University, scoring 1,277 points and grabbing 546 rebounds in 108 games.
He also helped his daughter hone her skills on their driveway.
“Joe was a very good player, the consummate professional and someone who went about his business without any fuss,” said former Ontario Basketball Association President Kirk Mark. “He was also quiet, caring and the person we pointed to as an individual that young people should emulate. It’s heartwarming to see his kids following in his footsteps and doing so well.”
Basketball isn’t only Alexander’s passion.
She has combined her love for the sport, teaching and children to publish her first book, ‘The Magic of Basketball’ co-written with her sister Kesia who graduated from the University of Ottawa with a double major in Political Science & Communications.
Kayla Alexander (r) and younger sister Kesia
Alexander illustrated the book while playing for the Adelaide Lightning in Australia in 2018-19.
“I love drawing and I always did it on a notepad,” she said. “Kesia, who is a perfectionist, didn’t think the drawings were polished and suggested I use an iPad Pro and the Procreate app which has worked out extremely well when trying to illustrate the lead character on every page.”
Written in rhyme, Alexander – who also played in South Korea -- uses her story to encourage children to recognize the opportunities that sports provide and work hard to achieve their dreams.
“I think representation is important,” she said. “It is great to have a young Black character, especially a girl because that is not often reflected in books. I want kids to go after their dreams and to be never afraid to try something new as I did when I was in Grade Six.”
Alexander’s love for teaching was inspired by her Grade Two teacher who she holds in high esteem.
“She was patient and made learning fun,” the National Basketball Youth Mentorship Program mentor said. “She also brought out my artistic side by encouraging me to draw and illustrate. I will give her a big hug if I see her now.”
‘The Magic of Basketball’ is available through kaylaalexander.net and on Amazon.
