{{Short description|Canadian basketball player (born 1991)}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Kayla Alexander | image = Kayla Alexander 50.jpg | caption = | team = Valencia Basket | number = 40 | league = [[Liga Femenina de Baloncesto|Liga Femenina]]<br>[[EuroLeague Women|EuroLeague]] | position = [[Center (basketball)|Centre]] | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 4 | weight_lbs = 186 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|1|5}} | birth_place = [[Milton, Ontario]], Canada | high_school = [[Milton District High School|Milton District]] (Milton, Ontario) | college = [[Syracuse Orange women's basketball|Syracuse]] (2009–2013) | draft_league = WNBA | draft_year = 2013 | draft_round = 1 | draft_pick = 8 | draft_team = [[San Antonio Silver Stars]] | career_start = 2013 | career_end = | years1 = {{WNBA Year|2013}}–{{WNBA Year|2017}} | team1 = [[San Antonio Stars]] | years2 = 2015–2016 | team2 = [[WBC Sparta&K]] | years3 = 2016–2017 | team3 = [[CJM Bourges Basket]] | years4 = 2017–2018 | team4 = [[Samsung Life Blueminx]] | years5 = {{WNBA Year|2018}} | team5 = [[Indiana Fever]] | years6 = 2018–2019 | team6 = [[Adelaide Lightning]] | bbr_wnba = alexaka01w | wnba_profile = kayla_alexander | team7 = [[Chicago Sky]] | years7 = {{WNBA Year|2019}} | team8 = [[Arka Gdynia]] | years8 = 2019–2020 | team9 = [[Minnesota Lynx]] | years9 = {{WNBA Year|2020}} | team10 = [[BC Castors Braine]] | years10 = 2020–2021 | team11 = [[ASVEL Féminin]] | years11 = 2021–2022 | highlights = * [[FIBA Europe SuperCup Women]] ([[2022 FIBA Europe SuperCup Women|2022]]) * FIBA Europe SuperCup Women MVP (2022) * Coupe de France (2024) * Coupe de France MVP (2024) * Honorable Mention [[NCAA Women's Basketball All-Americans|All-American]] – [[Associated Press|AP]] (2013) * 2x First-team All-[[Big East Conference|Big East]] (2011, 2013) * Second-team All-[[Big East Conference|Big East]] (2012) * [[Big East Conference|Big East]] All-Freshman Team (2010) | team12 = [[Tango Bourges Basket]] | years12 = 2022–2024 | medal_templates = {{MedalSport|Women's basketball}} {{MedalCountry|{{bkw|CAN}}}} {{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA Women's AmeriCup|FIBA AmeriCup]]}} {{MedalSilver|[[2019 FIBA Americas Championship for Women|2019 Puerto Rico]]|}} {{MedalBronze|[[2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup|2023 León]]|}} {{MedalBronze|[[2025 FIBA Women's AmeriCup|2025 Santiago]]|}} | team13 = [[Valencia Basket (women)|Valencia Basket]] | years13 = 2024–present }} '''Kayla Janine Alexander''' (born January 5, 1991) is a Canadian professional [[basketball]] player for [[Valencia Basket (women)|Valencia Basket]] of the [[Liga Femenina de Baloncesto]] and the [[EuroLeague Women|EuroLeague]]. She played [[college basketball]] for the [[Syracuse Orange women's basketball|Syracuse Orange]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Canadian Champion (Milton, ON), 29 Jul 2009, p. 12 |url=https://news.milton.halinet.on.ca/2509543/page/12?n= |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=news.milton.halinet.on.ca |language=en}}</ref> 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]].
==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).<ref name="D.O. trailblazing"/> She became the second player from Syracuse to be selected in a [[WNBA draft]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Silver Stars Select Kayla Alexander with the No. 8 Pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft |url=http://www.wnba.com/stars/news/130415_draft_recap.html?rss=true |access-date=2017-09-26 |work=NBA.com}}</ref>
Alexander's No. 40 jersey was retired by Syracuse University on December 8, 2024.<ref name="D.O. trailblazing">{{cite news |last1=Alumkal |first1=Nicholas |title=Kayla Alexander's jersey retirement honors trailblazing career |url=https://dailyorange.com/2024/12/syracuse-womens-basketball-kayla-alexander-jersey-retirement/ |access-date=5 December 2024 |work=[[The Daily Orange]] |date=5 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=Kayla Alexander's Jersey to be Raised in JMA Dome Rafters |url=https://cuse.com/news/2024/10/25/womens-basketball-kayla-alexanders-jersey-to-be-raised-in-jma-dome-rafters |access-date=5 December 2024 |work=[[Syracuse University Athletics]] |date=25 October 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
== 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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wnba.com/news/stars-re-sign-kayla-alexander/|title=Stars Re-Sign Kayla Alexander - WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA|work=WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA|access-date=2017-08-30|language=en-US}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Indiana Fever Acquire Kayla Alexander in Trade With Las Vegas|url=http://www.wnba.com/news/indiana-fever-acquire-kayla-alexander-trade-las-vegas/|website=WNBA.com|date=February 1, 2018|access-date=February 1, 2018}}</ref>
== 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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-08-22 |title=2016-2017 WNBA Overseas Signings - Women's Basketball 24.7 |language=en-US |work=Women's Basketball 24.7 |url=http://www.womensbasketball247.com/2016/08/2016-2017-wnba-overseas-signings/ |url-status=dead |access-date=2017-09-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930125329/http://www.womensbasketball247.com/2016/08/2016-2017-wnba-overseas-signings/ |archive-date=2017-09-30}}</ref>
In early 2020, she signed with [[Arka Gdynia (women's basketball)|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]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dichter |first1=Myles |date=18 March 2020 |title=Canadian athletes scramble to return home |publisher=CBC |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/kayla-alexander-poland-basketball-coronavirus-1.5501155 |access-date=5 November 2022}}</ref>
On May 23, 2024, Alexander signed with [[Liga Femenina de Baloncesto|Liga Femenina]] club [[Valencia Basket (women)|Valencia]], for the upcoming 2024–25 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kayla Alexander, a top-notch addition for Valencia Basket |url=https://www.valenciabasket.com/?p=noticias¬icia=10921 |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=www.valenciabasket.com |language=es}}</ref>
== Personal life == Alexander said she wanted to become a teacher once she retires from basketball.<ref>{{Cite news |title=WBB: Center Kayla Alexander Drafted 8th |work=[[Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician]] |url=http://www.nunesmagician.com/2013/4/15/4227982/wbb-center-kayla-alexander-selected-8th-in-the-wnba-draft |access-date=2017-09-26}}</ref> Her brother, [[Kyle Alexander|Kyle]] played for the [[Miami Heat]].
In 2019, Alexander wrote and illustrated a children's book, ''The Magic of Basketball''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Canadian Champion (Milton, ON), 12 Sep 2019, p. 30 |url=https://news.milton.halinet.on.ca/3683905/page/31?n= |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=news.milton.halinet.on.ca |language=en}}</ref> Her sister, Kesia, is credited as co-author.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nichols |first1=Paula |last2=Cseplo |first2=Simone |date=September 8, 2020 |title=Kayla Alexander and The Magic of Basketball September 8, 2020 |url=https://olympic.ca/2020/09/08/kayla-alexander-and-the-magic-of-basketball/ |access-date=5 November 2022 |website=Olympic.ca}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Loung |first1=Steven |date=1 July 2020 |title=Q&A: Kayla Alexander on playing for Canada, writing her children's book |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/qa-kayla-alexander-on-olympic-qualifying-writing-her-childrens-book/ |access-date=5 November 2022 |website=Sportsnet.ca |publisher=Rogers}}</ref>
Alexander is a devout [[Christianity|Christian]] and frequently posts about her faith on social media.<ref>{{cite web|title=28 Christian Athletes to Cheer On at the Paris 2024 Olympics|url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2024/july-web-only/christian-athletes-paris-2024-olympics-believers.html|publisher=[[Christianity Today]]|date=July 24, 2024|access-date=August 15, 2024}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{WNBA player statistics legend}}
===College=== {| class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Team !GP !FG% !3P% !FT% !RPG !APG !SPG !BPG !PPG |- |2009-10 |[[Syracuse Orange women's basketball|Syracuse]] |36 |54.2% |'''0.0%''' |70.1% |4.8 |0.1 |0.6 |1.9 |10.8 |- |2010-11 |[[Syracuse Orange women's basketball|Syracuse]] |35 |'''54.9%''' |0.0% |'''76.6%''' |6.9 |0.0 |'''0.7''' |2.6 |14.8 |- |2011-12 |[[Syracuse Orange women's basketball|Syracuse]] |'''37''' |49.5% |0.0% |74.7% |7.5 |'''0.3''' |0.6 |2.6 |14.8 |- |2012-13 |[[Syracuse Orange women's basketball|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<ref>{{Cite web |title=NCAA Statistics |url=http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/careerplayer |access-date=2017-08-28 |website=web1.ncaa.org}}</ref>
=== WNBA ===
==== Regular season ==== {{WNBA player statistics start}} |- | align="left" | [[2013 WNBA season|2013]] | align="left" | [[2013 San Antonio Silver Stars season|San Antonio]] | 33 || 1 || 11.2 || .417 || .000 || .733 || 3.0 || 0.3 || 0.1 || 0.4 || 1.1 || 2.8 |- | align="left" | [[2014 WNBA season|2014]] | align="left" | [[2014 San Antonio Stars season|San Antonio]] | 33 || 0 || 9.0 || .434 || .000 || .839 || 2.0 || 0.2 || 0.1 || 0.3 || 0.7 || 2.8 |- | align="left" | [[2015 WNBA season|2015]] | align="left" | [[2015 San Antonio Stars season|San Antonio]] | 29 || 0 || 12.3 || .416 || .000 || .647 || 3.3 || 0.2 || 0.2 || '''0.8''' || 0.8 || 3.3 |- | align="left" | [[2016 WNBA season|2016]] | align="left" | [[2016 San Antonio Stars season|San Antonio]] | 25 || 0 || '''19.6''' || .546 || .000 || .754 || '''4.5''' || '''0.5''' || '''0.4''' || 0.5 || 1.1 || '''8.0''' |- | align="left" | [[2017 WNBA season|2017]] | align="left" | [[2017 San Antonio Stars season|San Antonio]] | '''34''' || '''10''' || 15.4 || .582 || .000 || '''.909''' || 3.1 || '''0.5''' || '''0.4''' || 0.5 || 0.9 || 6.2 |- | align="left" | [[2018 WNBA season|2018]] | align="left" | [[2018 Indiana Fever season|Indiana]] | 30 || 0 || 8.6 || .541 || .000 || .824 || 2.2 || 0.2 || 0.1 || 0.3 || 0.6 || 2.7 |- | align="left" | [[2019 WNBA season|2019]] | align="left" | [[2019 Chicago Sky season|Chicago]] | 3 || 0 || 6.7 || '''.750''' || .000 || .750 || 2.3 || 0.3 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.3 || 3.0 |- | align="left" | [[2020 WNBA season|2020]] | align="left" | [[2020 Minnesota Lynx season|Minnesota]] | 16 || 0 || 5.6 || .533 || .000 || .625 || 0.9 || 0.2 || 0.1 || 0.2 || 0.4 || 2.3 |- | align="left" | Career | align="left" | 8 years, 4 teams | 203 || 11 || 11.8 || .508 || .000 || .763 || 2.8 || 0.3 || 0.2 || 0.4 || 0.8 || 4.0 {{S-end}}
==== Playoffs ==== {{WNBA player statistics start}} |- | align="left" | [[2014 WNBA season|2014]] | align="left" | [[2014 San Antonio Stars season|San Antonio]] | 1 || 0 || 1.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 |- | align="left" | [[2019 WNBA season|2019]] | align="left" | [[2019 Chicago Sky season|Chicago]] | '''2''' || 0 || '''1.5''' || '''1.000''' || .000 || .000 || '''1.0''' || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || '''2.0''' |- | align="left" | Career | align="left" | 2 years, 2 teams | 3 || 0 || 1.9 || 1.000 || .000 || .000 || 0.7 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 1.3 {{S-end}}
== References == {{reflist}}
{{2013 WNBA draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander, Kayla}} [[Category:1991 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Basketball people from Ontario]] [[Category:Sportswomen from Ontario]] [[Category:Basketball players at the 2020 Summer Olympics]] [[Category:Black Canadian basketball players]] [[Category:Black Canadian sportswomen]] [[Category:Canadian expatriate basketball people in the United States]] [[Category:Canadian women's basketball players]] [[Category:Centers (basketball)]] [[Category:Chicago Sky players]] [[Category:Indiana Fever players]] [[Category:Minnesota Lynx players]] [[Category:Olympic basketball players for Canada]] [[Category:San Antonio Silver Stars draft picks]] [[Category:San Antonio Stars players]] [[Category:Canadian Christians]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Milton, Ontario]] [[Category:Syracuse Orange women's basketball players]] [[Category:Canada women's national basketball team players]] [[Category:Basketball players at the 2024 Summer Olympics]] [[Category:21st-century Canadian sportswomen]]