Two-time Olympian and former Barrie Central Collegiate student delivers MVP performance in series sweep for league title
Baptized in France last year, former Barrie resident Kayla Alexander hoped the next chapter of her basketball career wouldn’t come far from her newfound church community.
And brought with it the chance to play with a highly-competitive club in a sunny climate.
In other words, the prayer to come was a little more specific than most.
“So when the opportunity presented itself to play for Valencia (Spain), not only was this a dream come true, but an answered prayer,” said the 34-year-old, who attended the former Barrie Central Collegiate.
The two-time Olympian shared that sentiment recently on Instagram as part of an emotionally charged recap of a season that ended with her team capturing the Liga Femenima Endesa championship – with a 71-63 victory punctuating a series sweep of Casademont Zaragoza.
A force at both ends of the court throughout the playoffs, Alexander scored 15 points and had eight rebounds in the deciding win to secure the finals MVP trophy.
Describing the past season as one of “fortitude – courage in pain and adversity” – the former Syracuse University standout and her teammates faced a number of low points en route to their triumphant finish.
Among them were numerous injuries and a heart-breaking first-round loss in the Spanish Cup.
But the two-time defending league champion Valencia refused to let their dynasty unravel, persevering through each setback on the way to their three-peat.
Along the way, the six-foot-four Alexander found time to make a number of three-and-a-half-hour train rides to her new place of worship — Iglesia Cristiana Internacional de Barcelona.
“Looking back on this season, I see God all over it. Not only in the answered prayers, but especially in the unanswered ones,” said Alexander, who had her Syracuse University jersey retired back in December and continues to run a tall women’s clothing business she established with a childhood teammate turned best friend.
“God gave me exactly what I needed. New relationships, tough but needed learnings, unexpected blessings and so much spiritual growth.”
Along with a stellar collegiate career and eight years in the WNBA, Alexander has played in many of the world’s top leagues – including France, Russia, Poland, South Korea, Belgium and Australia.
Her tenure with the national women’s team saw her help Canada to a fourth-place showing at the 2022 FIBA World Cup in Sydney – the country’s best tournament finish since 1986.
Valencia Basket celebrate their league championship victory. | Valencia Basket photo