The Canadian national 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 win propels Canada one step closer to securing a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Canada clinched the sole spot in the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2028, the final qualifying stage for the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Leading the charge for Canada, Kayla Alexander contributed 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists, while Agot Makeer added 13 points, three rebounds, and three assists without any turnovers.
The Canadian team dominated the tournament, achieving a perfect 5-0 record by triumphing over Senegal, the Philippines, Mexico, and New Zealand before claiming victory over the host country in the final match.
Head coach Nell Fortner expressed her pride in 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 contributed 12 points, and Yvonne Ejim delivered a stellar performance with a 10-point, 17-rebound double-double, along with two assists and a block, earning an impressive efficiency rating of 22 and a plus-32 rating.
Coach Fortner highlighted the team’s defensive strategy, emphasizing the focus on limiting Mexico’s three-point attempts, which proved successful as Mexico only managed a 5-for-26 shooting performance from beyond the arc. She credited the team’s defensive prowess for fueling their offensive success in the decisive game.
