Ontarians on Women’s Team Canada Roster for Olympics
On Tuesday evening, Canada Basketball and the Canadian Olympic Committee announced Canada’s women’s basketball team nominated to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Among those on the final roster 10 of the 12 are from Ontario and 2 of the 4 alternates are from Ontario.
Canada qualified for Tokyo 2020 after going undefeated at one of four FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in Ostend, Belgium in February 2020.
| Name | Hometown | Current Team |
|---|---|---|
| Natalie Achonwa | Guelph, ON | Minnesota Lynx (WNBA) |
| Kayla Alexander | Milton, ON | Mithra Castors Braine (Belgium) |
| Laeticia Amihere | Mississauga, ON | University of South Carolina (NCAA) |
| Miranda Ayim | London, ON | Basket Landes (France) |
| Bridget Carleton | Chatham, ON | Minnesota Lynx (WNBA) |
| Shay Colley | Brampton, ON | Charnay (France) |
| Aaliyah Edwards | Kingston, ON | University of Connecticut (WNBA) |
| Kia Nurse | Hamilton, ON | Phoenix Mercury (WNBA) |
| Shaina Pellington | Pickering, ON | University of Arizona (NCAA) |
| Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe | Toronto, ON | Lyon ASVEL (France) |
| ALTERNATES | ||
| Sami Hill | Toronto, ON | Nantes Reze Basket (France) |
| Merissah Russell | Ottawa, ON | University of Louisville (NCAA) |
Canada is currently ranked a program-high 4th in the FIBA World Rankings and recently competed in the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup 2021 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Team Canada opens its Olympic tournament against Serbia on July 26 (Day 3), followed by the Republic of Korea on July 29 (Day 6) and Spain on August 1 (Day 9). The quarterfinals will take place on August 4 (Day 12), and the semifinals on August 6 (Day 14). Women’s basketball will conclude on August 8 (Day 16) with the bronze and gold medal matches. All matches will be played at the Saitama Super Arena.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be Canada’s third consecutive Olympic appearance after the team previously competed at London 2012 and at Rio 2016. The highest Olympic placement by a Canadian women’s basketball team was 4th at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.
Team Canada’s Tokyo 2020 roster includes six Olympians, while the remainder of the players will be competing at their first Games. Veterans Natalie Achonwa, Miranda Ayim and Kim Gaucher will be making their third Olympic appearance after representing Canada at London 2012 and at Rio 2016.