Success of women’s team spurs interest in basketball
After Team Canada’s morning practice on Friday, the players started to make their way up the stairs at the Saville Community Sports Centre. All of a sudden, memories began to flood back as they looked at the commemorative mural on the wall celebrating their FIBA Americas gold medal victory.
“It’s amazing. That’s the best picture and what a way to capture what a special moment that was. To have this as a legacy and here all the time when we’re back here training ... It was the beginning of an incredible journey,” said Team Canada head coach Lisa Thomaidis.
The success of the Canadian senior women’s national team this past year has had a major impact in the growth of basketball at the grassroots level across the country.
In Edmonton, the growth is staggering. This team’s gold medal win last summer at the 2015 FIBA Americas championship made a huge imprint on the city and the basketball community.
“We wanted to recognize another team and the Canadian national women’s team was a no brainer. This team has meant so much to this facility and the growth of basketball in this city,” said Bob Butlin, representative of the Edmonton Grads Basketball Centre.
“The team left a huge imprint. Youth registrations went up 27 teams this past year. Our adult leagues grew by 10 more teams and we had over 100 teams sign up to pick up the game for the first time ever in our spring league.
“Last year we booked over 14,000 hours of basketball in this facility and that didn’t include CIS sports teams playing their games.”
The growth of the game at the women’s level can be attributed to Canada Basketball making a strong commitment to build the program over the last decade, but the players have also taken it upon themselves to become strong role models for youth.
Shortly after the team’s practice on Friday, Team Canada veteran Kim Gaucher spoke to more than 150 school kids at the Saville Centre who were taking part in a day camp.
Afterwards, every player signed autographs and talked to the kids.
“We want to be role models here, not just in Edmonton, but in all of Canada. Everyone on our team cherishes that role,” said Gaucher.
“The reason why this program has grown so much is because all of our players have that mindset. Some of our players have turned down bigger contracts overseas if it wasn’t the right situation for the national team.
“We do it for the love and to play for Canada.”