Fields of Dreams

Nirra Fields Talks Team Canada, UCLA Bruins, and Being Drafted Into the WNBA

SportsAlexander Perez — Published May 21, 2016

On Thursday, April 14, Fields was drafted into the WNBA 32nd overall in the third round by the Phoenix Mercury.

The WNBA was always a dream for Fields. However, on the night of the 2016 draft, she was beginning to feel a sense of doubt.

“I actually thought I wouldn’t get drafted,” revealed Fields “I was just very excited. That moment was really unforgettable.”

She was attending class that night, waiting for a text she thought she wouldn’t receive. Despite her uncertainty, the news that she would be playing professional basketball in the WNBA was something of a dream come true for the Montreal native.

The news of Fields’ entrance into the WNBA quickly circulated. Cori Close, head coach of the UCLA Bruins who’d worked closely with Fields throughout her development, expressed nothing but joy for her star player.

“I was thrilled on lots of levels,” said Close. “I just knew that was a dream of hers, to have her name called in the WNBA draft.”

“I’m sort of like the parent figure, just smiling when one of your kids has a dream come true.”

Fields’ attended four high schools in five years, however it was not something that troubled her. She spent her final year attending Mater Dei High School in Santa Clara, California, enjoying several accomplishments in the process, earning first team honours as well as being the first female Canadian to be named to the McDonald’s All-American Game.

Fields subsequently joined the University of California, Los Angeles where she spent four years attending and playing for the UCLA Bruins. During her time in sunny California, she lived with former Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers coach, Mike Brown.

“When he was home, he was just really fun to be around,” admitted Fields “I spent time with his son and his wife. It was different from what I was used to, living in a huge house, being a part of the family.”

Heading into the WNBA, Fields is regarded as one of Canadian basketball’s top talents, but remains humble and focused on the task ahead.

She has already competed at a national level alongside Team Canada, an experience that remains pivotal to her development.

“A lot of players do not have that experience heading into the WNBA and Nirra has,” Close pointed out.

In last year’s Toronto Pan Am Games, Fields played in five games en route to beating the USA and winning the gold medal.

“That was definitely the highlight of the summer. We weren’t really expected to win the whole thing,” she said “We really worked hard the entire summer and we had really great relationships off the court and the chemistry on the court was just amazing. That was definitely something.”

Fields’ experience with the national team has been successful one so far, but it’s also proved to be a significant learning curve for the WNBA draftee. Participating at a national level allowed her to improve her leadership qualities on the court.

“She’s had to be a leader on our team [UCLA Bruins], but she’s also learn to be lead on the national team, which I think will bode well for her going into the WNBA,” said Close. “She knows how to be lead by the older players, she knows how to study them.”

With the WNBA season currently underway, Fields possesses all the qualities necessary to become a success with the Phoenix Mercury.

“She is come early, stay late. She’ll set the tone and be one of the first ones in the gym. That just helps everybody get better,” said Close.

Close is adamant that her former star will hit the ground running and is confident that she will give everything she has to accomplish her goals. It’s her versatility and explosiveness that the Mercury will surely benefit from, but will also be sorely missed for Close and the Bruins.

“On the offensive end I would consider her explosive to the rack. On the defensive end I also describe her as explosive,” revealed Close. “Some players are quick and some are powerful, and Nirra is both. That’s what makes her unique as a player, is her combination of strength and quickness.”

Having realized her dream of playing in the WNBA, Fields is now focused on furthering her progression as she begins her career in Phoenix.

“I’m still young, I’m not even in my prime yet,” said Fields. “I’ll continue to get better, I’ll continue to stay with the process and definitely that’ll take me to the places I want to go.”