The Canadian women’s basketball team emerged victorious with an 83-53 win over Mexico in the FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament held in Guadalajara. This triumph propels Canada one step closer to qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Canada also secured the sole spot in the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2028, the ultimate qualifying stage for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Kayla Alexander led the charge for Canada with 14 points, along with four rebounds and three assists. Agot Makeer contributed 13 points on an efficient 5-of-7 shooting, and added three rebounds and three assists without any turnovers.
The Canadian women’s team completed a perfect sweep in the tournament, finishing with a 5-0 record following victories over Senegal, the Philippines, Mexico, and New Zealand, culminating in a second win against the host nation in the final showdown.
Head coach Nell Fortner expressed her satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “The goal all summer long was to win this tournament, and we did that. We did it in fine fashion today. I’m super proud of my team. We had a mix of young players and veterans who had to come together and play collectively for the first time. I believe we meshed well, and it all came together today.”
Syla Swords contributed 12 points, while Yvonne Ejim delivered a remarkable 10-point, 17-rebound double-double performance. Ejim also contributed two assists and a block, achieving a game-high efficiency rating of 22 and a plus-32 rating.
Fortner highlighted the team’s defensive strategy, stating, “We adopted a different defensive approach, effectively shutting down their offense. We prioritized limiting their three-point shots, aiming to restrict them to no more than six, and they finished 5-for-26. Our defensive prowess translated into offensive success, significantly impacting today’s outcome.”
