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 brings Canada closer to securing a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Additionally, Canada clinched the sole berth in the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2028, the final qualifying stage for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Kayla Alexander led the charge for Canada with 14 points, complemented by four rebounds and three assists. Agot Makeer contributed 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, along with three rebounds and three assists without any turnovers. The Canadian women dominated the tournament, finishing with a perfect 5-0 record, defeating Senegal, the Philippines, Mexico, and New Zealand before claiming victory over the host nation in the final match.
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.” Syla Swords tallied 12 points, while Yvonne Ejim showcased a stellar performance with a 10-point, 17-rebound double-double. Ejim also contributed two assists, a block, and earned a game-high efficiency rating of 22 and a plus-32 rating.
Fortner attributed the success to the team’s defensive strategy, emphasizing their focus on limiting the opponent’s three-point shots. She remarked, “Our defense creates our offense, and it did that in a big way today,” highlighting the pivotal role of their defensive tactics in securing the victory.
