Kia Nurse is donating part of her salary from Australian basketball to wildfire relief

BarDown Staff

Kia Nurse , The Canadian Press

While on offseason from the WNBA’s New York Liberty, Canadian basketball star Kia Nurse plays professionally in Australia for the Canberra Capitals.

Given the historically destructive wildfires currently raging through Australia, burning through millions of acres and hundreds of homes, Nurse is going to donate towards relief efforts for her "home away from home.”

For each point scored during the Capitals' next five games, Nurse will donate five dollars. The Capitals are averaging 80.1 points per game this season.

Australia has been my home away from home for the last 2 years thanks to the @WNBL ...for our next 5 games starting tonight I will be donating $5 for every point my teammates and I the @UCCapitals score to support both the fire fighters and the victims.
— Kia Nurse (@KayNurse11) January 3, 2020

The fires have impacted so many different people and wildlife. I’ve decided to do a 50/50 split of the money raised to the Salvation Army Australia for the victims and NSW Rural Fire Service for the brave men and women fighting these fires.
— Kia Nurse (@KayNurse11) January 3, 2020

Inspired by Nurse’s decision, teammate Kelsey Griffin and her wife Erin will also match the donation.

Love your initiative @KayNurse11 Such a great idea @Griffinkelsey23 and I will match it ❤️ https://t.co/eIIXk1Ub6x
— Erin Griffin (@ErinGri81) January 3, 2020

Nurse’s announcement follows after similar pledges from Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios, who is donating $200 for each ace he hits during ongoing ATP Cup events, as well as American-born NBA draft prospect LaMelo Ball, who is pledging one month of his salary from Australia’s National Basketball League.

I’m kicking off the support for those affected by the fires. I’ll be donating $200 per ace that I hit across all the events I play this summer. #MoreToCome #StayTuned
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) January 2, 2020

Sources have told me that @IllawarraHawks PG LaMelo Ball @MELOD1P is donating one month of his @NBL salary to victims of the tragic NSW Fires. Thoughts and prayers go out to the families and victims affected by the tragedy.
— Corey “Homicide” Williams (@chomicide) January 2, 2020

h/t Twitter/KayNurse11