August 10, 2023
Locked on Women’s Basketball: Los Angeles Sparks’ Jordin Canada, Most Improved Player candidate, put in the work
By The Next
Howard and Jordin Canada discuss her offseason regimen, leadership role with the Sparks' and her years in Seattle
It’s time for another Locked on Women’s Basketball podcast episode. Los Angeles Sparks’ Jordin Canada, Most Improved Player candidate, has done everything in her power to turn herself into the elite starting point guard she’s become in 2023. But it was anything but easy, as she details her offseason regimen to Howard Megdal, along with a multi-year effort to figure out precisely what her game can be. The two talk about her return home, what the offseason looks like, and much more in this wide-ranging interview.
Continue reading with a subscription to The Next
Get unlimited access to women’s basketball coverage and help support our hardworking staff of writers, editors, and photographers by subscribing today.
Already a member?
Login
Jordin Canada talks about how much work she put in the offseason and how is paying off during the season:
“Beginning of the season, honestly, I put in a lot of work in the offseason and just trying to find that confidence that I had while I was at UCLA and trusting the process and what I did in the offseason. And then soon as the season started, I kind of just float into that. And I’ve been confident ever since of feeling like my old self again. So really, just the hard work that I put into the offseason.”
The Next and The Equalizer are teaming up
The Next is partnering with The Equalizer to bring more women’s sports stories to your inbox. Subscribe to The Next now and receive 50% off your subscription to The Equalizer for 24/7 coverage of women’s soccer.
Jordin Canada talks about her years in Seattle and leadership role:
“I think, coming into Seattle being drafted, being in a different role, honestly, my whole career up until that point, I was a starter. And just being in that leadership role, and then coming onto a fully talented team and playing behind one of the best point guards, if not the best point guard in the history of the WNBA, in Sue Bird. I mean, that was a lot. And I had to learn a lot; I had to figure out my role and what it was. So it was just a lot that I had to deal with. And I think mentally that kind of took me out, you know, who I was as a player, and trying to establish a new role and being put into a new system. And I think that was just really hard for me, honestly, throughout my years in Seattle trying to navigate that.
Honestly, obviously being in and out of the lineup, my second year having to step in when Sue Bird was out. And I kind of got my confidence back a little bit there. But you know, like you said, it’s more psychological than physical. And I think once I came to the Sparks, I was able to kind of get that confidence back and feeling like I was being put into more of a leadership role. And I think that helped me, honestly. And like I said in the offseason, just trusting the work that I put in, and then coming into this season, knowing that I had another opportunity to be a leader of this team. I think that just kind of helped get me back to where I used to be.”
Add Locked On Women’s Basketball to your daily routine
Here at The Next, in addition to the 24/7/365 written content our staff provides, we also host the daily Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast. Join us Monday through Saturday each week as we discuss all things WNBA, collegiate basketball, basketball history and much more. Listen wherever you find podcasts or watch on YouTube.
Make sure to subscribe to Locked on Women’s Basketball, where we have new shows every weekday.
For more coverage of the WNBA, click here.
