The Canadian women’s basketball team emerged victorious with an impressive 83-53 win over Mexico in the FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament held in Guadalajara. This triumph brings Canada one step closer to securing a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Canada’s dominance also earned them the sole ticket to the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2028, the final phase of qualification for the upcoming Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Leading the charge for Canada, Kayla Alexander contributed 14 points, along with four rebounds and three assists. Agot Makeer showcased a strong performance by scoring 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, adding three rebounds and three assists without any turnovers.

The Canadian women’s team displayed an impeccable performance throughout the tournament, achieving a perfect 5-0 record by defeating Senegal, the Philippines, Mexico, and New Zealand before clinching victory against the host nation in the final match.

Coach Nell Fortner expressed her pride in the team’s accomplishment, 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 to the victory, while Yvonne Ejim delivered a stellar performance with a 10-point, 17-rebound double-double. Ejim’s impressive stats included two assists, a block, a game-high efficiency rating of 22, and a plus-32 rating.

Fortner highlighted the team’s defensive strategy as a key factor in the win, stating, “We played them differently defensively, and it really shut down their offence. Our defence creates our offence, and it did that in a big way today.”

This strategic approach limited the opponents’ three-point shooting to 5-for-26, ultimately making a significant impact on the game’s outcome.