Women’s squad looks largely set
With a talented group who are used to playing together, there’s no reason for any big changes
It will do the Canadian women’s team well that they’ve been spending seasons developing a core group, because there will not be a lot of time for the final group to coalesce before the Paris Olympics.
With a growing contingent of WNBA players on the Canadian roster, there is going to be less than a week for the full squad to practise before the Summer Games, which they fall right in the middle of the season. The WNBA will break July 21 and the Paris tournament begins July 28.
It’s why the roster Canada Basketball will put together is heavy on international experience.
Three Olympians — the L.A. Sparks’ Kia Nurse, Minnesota’s Bridget Carleton and Atlanta’s Laeticia Amihere — will be lastminute additions to Canada’s preparation. There’s also a chance Aaliyah Edwards might forego her final college year at Connecticut, be a first-round WNBA draft pick in April and be in her rookie season.
It is expected that nine Canadians — Carleton, Nurse, Amihere, Edwards, Natalie Achonwa, Kayla Alexander, Shaina Pellington, Shay Colley and Nirra Fields — will be back from the Tokyo Olympics team. Achonwa, Nurse and Fields also played in the 2016 Rio Olympics and Achonwa started her Games career in 2012 in London.
Because of that experience and a wealth of world-class talent, there’s no reason for Canada to deviate from the current roster heading into Paris.
There may be a bit more massaging on the periphery — if Notre Dame’s Cassandre Prosper is healthy, she’ll get serious consideration — but there isn’t going to be any wholesale change.
And there is a wealth of youth on the roster that will benefit from the Paris Games and help make a seamless transition through the 2028 Los Angeles quadrennial, among them Syla Swords, who hasn’t yet played a college season, Yvonne Ejim, coming off a stellar season at Gonzaga, and Edwards.
The women will arrive in Paris after a humbling and eye-opening qualifying process in which they squeaked into the Games — Canada’s fourth straight Olympic berth — only because a near-miracle comeback from Spain knocked out Hungary.
For a team used to success after two Olympic quarterfinal berths and a fourth-place finish at the 2022 World Cup, being knocked down a peg was a wake-up call.
Here’s how I see the roster shaping up, broken down into certainties, who should it make and other considerations.
The nine locks
Natalie Achonwa The team’s captain will playing in her fourth Olympics, eclipsing any other Canadian basketball player. And she has lots of game left.
Bridget Carleton There’s going to be a lot of shooting responsibility on the veteran who had an excellent season in the Hungary domestic league before rejoining the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx.
Kia Nurse She has to provide stability and leadership in the backcourt, a vital need for the team.
Kayla Alexander All she seems to do is rack up double-doubles in every game she plays for Canada. Probably the team’s most underrated player.
Laeticia Amihere A young, promising player who should see a bump in production with a major role in Paris.
Shay Colley The point guard took last winter off to stay in Canada and train. Colley found work in Europe at the end of the season to sharpen her game before Paris.
Syla Swords The teenager hasn’t yet played an NCAA game but has a wealth of international experience. Her shooting skills are going to be needed.
Yvonne Ejim Had a tremendous season at Gonzaga after playing for Canada at the qualifier. The future is brilliant.
Aaliyah Edwards Coming off a great year at Connecticut, she’ll be a standout for years to come.
Our final three
Sami Hill Good teams need steady veterans who can fill a role and act as a leader.
Shaina Pellington Another veteran, she should grab a berth on her past appearances for Canada.
Nirra Fields Her inclusion might come down to how coach Victor Lapena and general manager Denise Dignard decide on positional needs. But she’s a scorer and a veteran.
In the mix
Cassandre Prosper The big question is health but she’ll get a long look if she’s ready.
Aislinn Konig If they’re looking for a bit of extra offence, the veteran wing will be in the conversation.
Merissah Russell Might be squeezed out by numbers, but she’s looked good for Canada in other events.
Phillipina Kyei The six-foot-eight collegian probably isn’t ready for the level of Olympic play but having that size for a few minutes in the odd game can’t be ignored.
Emily Potter Didn’t play much at the Olympic qualifier but the veteran probably gets a longer look over others if some injuries or absences pop up.