The Canadian national women’s basketball team emerged victorious over Mexico with a score of 83-53 in the FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament held in Guadalajara. This win propels Canada closer to securing a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Additionally, Canada has clinched the lone 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, along with four rebounds and three assists. Agot Makeer contributed 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, accompanied by three rebounds and three assists without any turnovers. The Canadian women’s team achieved an undefeated streak in the tournament, finishing with a 5-0 record after victories against Senegal, the Philippines, Mexico, and New Zealand before triumphing over the host country in the final match.
Head coach Nell Fortner expressed her 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 contributed 12 points, while Yvonne Ejim delivered a notable performance with a 10-point, 17-rebound double-double. Ejim also added two assists, a block, and achieved a game-high efficiency rating of 22 with a plus-32 rating.
Fortner emphasized the team’s defensive strategy, highlighting their focus on limiting their opponents’ three-point shooting. She mentioned, “Our defence creates our offence, and it did that in a big way today.” The defensive approach effectively restricted Mexico’s offensive capabilities, leading to a significant victory for the Canadian team.