While a lot of the talk about women’s Olympic basketball rightfully has been about Team USA, there is another country building a pretty strong team: Canada.
After a disappointing early exit at the Tokyo Olympics, the Senior Canadian Women’s National Team redeemed themselves with a historic fourth-place finish at the FIBA World Cup in September 2022. Yet, their Olympic hopes were nearly dashed in February when they almost did not make it out of the Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Sopron, Hungary. It took a more than 20-point comeback victory from Spain to help Canada squeeze into the Olympics.
Now that Canada is going to Paris, they are more motivated than ever to do well. There are many returning players, as well as the potential for some new faces to make the squad. And though the final roster has not yet been officially announced, the WNBA’s four Canadians are all but a lock to make the team.
Bridget Carleton, Kia Nurse, Aaliyah Edwards and Laeticia Amihere are still with their WNBA teams, but will most likely join Canada closer to the Olympic Games.
Bridget Carleton (Minnesota Lynx)
