Canada showcased an impressive performance by defeating New Zealand 86-71 in the semifinal of the FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament held in Guadalajara. Throughout the game, Canada maintained a lead for almost 32 minutes and extended their margin to 30 points in the third quarter.
Syla Swords and Delaney Gibb both contributed 17 points, with Jasmine Bascoe adding 15 points along with eight assists and four rebounds, leading Canada to secure a spot in the final. Swords excelled with a remarkable shooting performance, converting 6 out of 8 field goal attempts and a flawless 5-for-5 from beyond the arc.
In the upcoming final, Canada will go head-to-head against Mexico, the host country, with the tournament title at stake. Mexico secured their spot in the final after defeating Brazil in the other semifinal match. Notably, Canada had previously triumphed over Mexico with a score of 70-64 during the group stage, setting the stage for an exciting rematch in the championship game.
The victorious team in the final will secure a place in the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments scheduled for February 2028.