Canada's Women's Olympic Basketball Team Roster Revealed

Meet your Olympians, Canada.

Team Canada’s women’s basketball squad unveiled their roster on Tuesday and it featured more WNBA talent than it ever has before.

The team qualified for the Olympics after a tight finish at an Olympic Qualification Tournament back in February. It will be their fourth-straight appearance at the Olympics and eighth overall.

Headlining the team will be promising rookie star Aaliyah Edwards from the Washington Mystics and veteran Kia Nurse of the Los Angeles Sparks. Joining those two from the WNBA will be Bridget Carleton of the Minnesota Lynx and Laeticia Amihere of the Atlanta Dream.

Those four players will join the team later in July when the league goes on an international break.

As a whole though, there are seven players with WNBA experience, as Kayla Alexander, Natalie Achonwa and Nields Fields have all had stints in the league.

“It’s always an incredible honour to represent my country at an Olympic Games,” said Achonwa, team co-captain, in a statement from Canada Basketball. “Regardless of the tournament or competition, the pride I feel putting on a Canada jersey is always the same. And knowing this is my last time in that jersey, I want to cherish every second of this journey. As a team, our focus and messaging have been the same all quad. We’re all invested in the grind and putting in the work together now to be our absolute best when the lights come on in Paris.”

There are also four players set to make their Olympic debuts: Yvonne Ejim, Sami Hill, Cassandre Prosper and Syla Swords.

Here is the full roster headed to Paris:

Natalie Achonwa, F — Guelph, Ont.
Kayla Alexander, C — Milton, Ont.
Laeticia Amihere, F — Mississauga, Ont.
Bridget Carleton, F — Chatham, Ont.
Shay Colley, G — Brampton, Ont.
Aaliyah Edwards, F — Kingston, Ont.
Yvonne Ejim, F — Calgary, Alta.
Nirra Fields, G — Montreal, Que.
Sami Hill, G — Toronto, Ont.
Kia Nurse, G — Hamilton, Ont.
Cassandre Prosper, G — Montreal, Que.
Syla Swords, G — Sudbury, Ont.

After much anticipation, the roster for Canada’s Women’s Olympic Basketball Team has finally been revealed. The team, which will represent Canada at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, is a mix of seasoned veterans and promising young talent.

Leading the team is head coach Lisa Thomaidis, who has been at the helm of the program since 2013. Under her guidance, Canada’s women’s basketball team has seen significant success, including a fourth-place finish at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

One of the standout players on the roster is veteran guard Kia Nurse. Nurse, who currently plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA, has been a key player for Team Canada for several years. Her leadership and scoring ability will be crucial for Canada’s success in Tokyo.

Joining Nurse in the backcourt is Bridget Carleton, another WNBA player who has shown great potential on the international stage. Carleton’s versatility and shooting touch will provide a valuable offensive spark for the team.

In the frontcourt, Canada will rely on the experience of Natalie Achonwa and Miranda Ayim. Both players have represented Canada at multiple Olympics and bring a wealth of international experience to the team. Their presence in the paint will be essential for Canada’s success against tough competition.

Rounding out the roster are young talents like Aaliyah Edwards and Laeticia Amihere, who will be making their Olympic debuts. These rising stars have shown great potential in their young careers and will be looking to make a big impact on the international stage.

Overall, Canada’s Women’s Olympic Basketball Team boasts a strong roster with a mix of experience and youth. With a talented group of players and a proven coach leading the way, Canada will be looking to make a statement in Tokyo and compete for a medal on the biggest stage in basketball.