UCLA Women’s Basketball: Jordin Canada leaves big shoes to fill
Jordin Canada has left a legacy with the UCLA Women’s basketball team, one that will leave very big shoes to fill as the senior gets ready for her last hoorah.
Jordin Canada has currently racked up 796 career assists, 331 career steals, and 40 pairs of shoes. A self-proclaimed shoe lover, the UCLA Women’s basketball point guard says her current favorite is a pair of Nike Air Max 90s, of which she has several colors.
RELATED: Jordin Canada, Monique Billings named to All-Pac-12 team
Still the real shoes we’re all concerned with are the very big shoes UCLA has to fill after Canada graduates this year.
In her time at UCLA, this hometown hero has more than done her city proud, scoring 2,077 career points while averaging 15.3 points, 6.3 assists, and 2.8 steals.
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But that’s not all, folks. She saved the best for last.
As a senior, she earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and broke the Pac-12’s 27-year-old career assists record (765). She dished out 213 assists just this season.
“I didn’t know I broke the record at the Oregon game until after. I was just trying to think about the team,” said Canada. “It’s a testament to how hard I’ve worked and I have to thank my past and present coaches and teammates because without them I wouldn’t have that record.”
For the third straight year, Canada leads the Pac-12 in steals and earned a spot on the All-Pac-12 team.
It’s no surprise that she’s a semifinalist for the Naismith Award that goes to the nation’s top player. Canada is tough as shoe leather and currently the only active player in NCAA women’s basketball to have at least 2000 points, 700 assists, and 300 steals.
Her favorite memory of her time at UCLA so far? “Going to the Sweet 16 back to back years.”
When the Bruins advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in 2017, it was the first time in school history that UCLA had advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in back-to-back seasons.
https://twitter.com/FnA_UCLABruins/status/968937893363249152
#WeLoveLA RT "#UCLA There's a NEW leader in town. UCLAWBB's Jordin Canada #GoBruins pic.twitter.com/guN2H7bPoJ" #SportsRoadhouse pic.twitter.com/BejEn2zX0a
— LosAngelesSRH (@LosAngelesSRH) February 21, 2018
Canada wanted to come to UCLA for many reasons: she’s from Los Angeles, she values education, she wanted her friends and family to be able to come and see her play and — to create a legacy. She didn’t want to carry on the legacy of another program. Canada wanted to blaze her own trail and leave her own legacy at UCLA.
“I think the thing I most want to be remembered for is my work ethic… and the impact I’ve made on little girls lives.” Canada also helps coach her former club basketball team and attends games when she can.
Canada hopes to continue making an impact by one day becoming an OBGYN. But before that, she will pursue playing professional basketball either in the WNBA or abroad.
And before that, she will lead the Bruins on the run to an NCAA title – one last time.
Next: The UCLA Men's basketball team is going dancing!
Canada and the Bruins start their 2018 NCAA Tournament campaign on Saturday as an 3-seed and will host 14-seed American at Pauley Pavilion.