The Canadian 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 brings Canada one step closer to qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Canada clinched the sole spot in the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2028, the final phase of qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Kayla Alexander led the Canadian team with 14 points, complemented by four rebounds and three assists. Agot Makeer contributed 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, along with three rebounds and three assists without any turnovers. The Canadian women dominated the tournament, achieving a perfect 5-0 record with victories over Senegal, the Philippines, Mexico, and New Zealand before defeating Mexico for the second time in the final match.
Head coach Nell Fortner expressed satisfaction with 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 scored 12 points, while Yvonne Ejim secured a double-double with 10 points and 17 rebounds. Ejim also contributed two assists and a block, boasting a game-high efficiency rating of 22 and a plus-32 rating.
Fortner highlighted the defensive strategy, 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.” The team focused on limiting Mexico’s three-point shots, successfully holding them to 5-for-26 from beyond the arc, a key factor in securing the victory.