By: Holly MacKenzie

OSTEND, BELGIUM (February 7, 2020) -- At the 6:33 mark of the opening quarter between Canada and Belgium, it was time. Kayla Alexander subbed into the game for Team Canada, making her return to the court after four months of rehabbing following a knee injury. Her impact was immediate. Scoring eight of Canada’s 12 points in the opening quarter, Alexander helped the team to build a five-point lead that ballooned to 16 in the second quarter.

After a rollercoaster final minute, Canada walked off the court with a 61-56 victory. Alexander walked off the court having logged nearly 22 minutes of action. She was Canada’s second-leading scorer, finishing with 12 points on 5-for-7 field goals. In addition to her field goals, she also calmly sank a critical pair of free throws to put her team ahead by four with 10 seconds remaining in the game.

“I’m just really excited to be back on the court,” Alexander said about returning to the court in Belgium. “To compete again at a high level with my teammates. I’m focused on trying to play at a high level for my team and getting back to where I was. I know it’s going to take time, but I'm just so thankful to be back on the court and getting to compete with my teammates.”

It would be impossible not to be thrilled for Alexander. After trying out for the National Team in multiple summers, she then endured knee injuries in each of the past two summers. Getting to suit up for Canada again was incredibly important to her.

“I think it means a ton [for her to be back on the court],” head coach Lisa Thomaidis said. ”She’s been through a lot in her career. She’s played at the highest levels, with the exception of the Olympic Games, and I think this is something she’s always dreamt of. She’s so close to it right now. She’s had some setbacks with injury, but she’s just such a positive person.”

Alexander acknowledged that dealing with injuries two summers in a row was difficult.

“It was definitely frustrating,” she said. “Last summer when I finally made the team, we were competing, we had exhibition games right before [the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup] and I hurt my MCL so I couldn’t go. Then to be able to finish phase one with the team during [this most recent] summer, that was amazing to play with the team. Then going into Puerto Rico, competing and it happened again, it was frustrating.”

Prior to injury, Alexander had been on her way to having a wonderful showing in the AmeriCup tournament. Though it was tough to have to be sidelined from the game she loves, Alexander credited her strong faith, along with the love and support of her Team Canada family, with helping her to keep perspective.

“I was heartbroken,” she said. “This is what I had been working hard for, I finally had a dream come true. I made the team, I’m competing, I’m helping us compete at a high level and then I go down. Honestly what got me through was my amazing teammates, who were so supportive, the coaching staff and the medical staff. They were there for me on a mental and emotional level which I’m really thankful for. The most important thing for me was my faith. I know God has a plan. Unfortunately, things happen that don’t make sense, we don't understand the reasoning or why behind it, but I believe that he works it all out for his good and his glory.”

Although she was eager to return, Alexander chose to focus on the positives of her time away from the court. Being unable to play basketball meant more time at home with her family and friends. After traveling the world to play professionally for much of the past seven years, she figured she might as well enjoy the time with loved ones while she was able to have it. In addition to rehabbing and getting in quality time at home, Alexander chose to give back, visiting schools and giving talks to kids about facing obstacles and working toward their dreams.

“I was able to do a lot of school visits,” she said. “Working with kids is something I really enjoy. I try to take the positives and try to share my story and encourage young kids, encourage them to push through and go after what they want.”

Scheduling school visits isn’t the only way that Alexander has found to give back to the youth. In August 2019, she fulfilled another dream upon the publication of her first children’s book, The Magic of Basketball. Written by Alexander along with her sister, Kesia, Alexander also illustrated the book.

“I went to school for education,” Alexander said. “I love working with kids. I think that’s my calling, my passion; to work with kids and pour back into them the way adults and others poured into me when I was growing up.”

“Through my journey in basketball, I've learned so much,” she continued. “Basketball has given me so much. The life lessons you learned in basketball, the lessons you take with you, last long after you touch the ball. Basketball is where I found my voice. It taught me about teamwork and what hard work really looks like and I wanted to show that to little kids. Every time I talk to kids, I try to share these lessons with them. For all of the kids I can’t reach yet, I have this book.”

Going from wanting to write a book to actually writing, illustrating and then publishing that book was a new challenge for Alexander. Though she’s well versed in the workload of a professional basketball player, becoming an author was something different.

“You know when people tell you about the hard work [involved], and you’re like, “Yeah, I understand hard work,” she said. “It really hit me because I’m so accustomed to the work of basketball, putting in the hours, the hard work, the training. Writing this book is a different monster. It was using different muscles. It was a different kind of challenge, but I'm so proud of it and so thankful for how it turned out. I’m so thankful my sister helped me out. It turned out great and I'm just very proud of it and realized I really enjoyed doing it and want to write more books.”

Alexander says if she wasn’t playing basketball, she’d be teaching. Even in brief conversations, her desire to motivate and spread positivity is apparent immediately. From taking her own struggles and turning them into lessons of encouragement, to always having time to talk about the success and talents of her teammates, to remaining ever cognizant of and grateful for the work of the team’s support staff behind-the scenes, it’s no surprise that Alexander’s Team Canada teammates and coaching staff are so happy to see her back on the floor doing what she loves.

“She’s been such a great addition to our team,” Thomaidis said. “She’s so talented. She’s humble, yet so talented. In lots of different areas. She changes the complexion of what our team looks like, what we’re able to do and how we’re able to play. We’re just excited to have her back out there and see what things look like when she’s back in the mix for good.”

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