First-ever Canadian Olympic 3x3 basketball team named ahead of Paris 2024
Canada has qualified a team in the event for the first time.
Team Canada’s Paris 2024 3x3 basketball roster was revealed on Monday, ahead of the team competing at the Olympic Games for the first time ever.
Canada qualified for the Olympics by finishing third at the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in May. The Canadians won the third-place game with a one-sided 21-10 victory against the hosts Hungary, bouncing back in a big way after losing in the last second of their semifinal against Spain.
Canada boasts some of the biggest stars in the 3x3 game, with twin sisters Katherine and Michelle Plouffe ranked first and second, respectively, in the FIBA 3x3 Individual World Rankings. Paige Crozon, also on Team Canada, is third on that list, while Kacie Bosch — who rounds out the Olympic team — sits in 16th.
Team success has followed them, with Canada winning the gold medal at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, and finish top-three at the last three FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup tournaments. Canada also won a silver medal at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2022 and picked up 10 first-place finishes on the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series over the past three seasons.
The discipline made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, but Canada did not qualify.
Both Plouffe sisters are returning to the Olympics for the first time since Rio 2016 after playing for Canada in the traditional five-a-side variant of basketball, with Michelle also playing for Canada at London 2012. Crozon and Bosch will be making their Olympic debuts in Paris.
“I’m super excited to go to, what sounds crazy, but my third Olympic Games,” said Michelle Plouffe in a press release. “A few Canadian basketball players have done this on the women’s side, but it’s been incredibly special to make this happen with 3×3. Being a part of this program from the ground up has been just so worth it to build something like this. I’m proud of everyone who has been a part of this team and program, from the staff and players to all those who have supported and encouraged us and told us to keep working towards it. Also, we’re all thankful for our family and friends who have been there for us throughout this incredible journey.
“We have our eyes set on the podium, but so do each of the other seven teams,” she added. “We know it will be hard with such an elite pool, but we’ve worked hard to get here. At times, we’ve taken the hard, long road, ultimately preparing us for what will come. I’m confident that our team will be ready to go — physically, mentally, and emotionally. When I step on the court in Paris, I’m just really going to soak it all in because you never know what can happen. I’ve loved every part of this journey; the challenges and hurdles we’ve faced will make everything sweeter on the other side. I’m excited for July and to be in Paris and perform on the world’s biggest stage.”
After her 19-year national team career came to an end after Tokyo 2020, former women’s national team captain and three-time Olympian Kim Gaucher will coach the 3x3 team in Paris.
The team’s goal is to reach the podium, with a gold medal a real possibility.
“These women are trailblazers in the world of 3×3 basketball,” said Gaucher in a press release. “They embarked on this journey with a dream of growing the game across Canada and reaching the Olympic stage. Over the years, their journey has been filled with highs and lows, with passports stamped with experiences from around the globe.
“Now, finally, they have the chance to shine with all of Canada and the world watching.”
Canada is one of eight teams competing in 3x3 women’s basketball, which will take place from July 30 to August 5 at La Concorde, the urban sports park constructed in Place de la Concorde.
All eight teams will play each other throughout the opening round, after which the teams will be ranked based on their records. The top two teams will advance directly to the semifinals, and the bottom two teams will be eliminated from the tournament. The other four teams will compete in a play-in round, with the winners moving on to the semifinals.
The winners of the two semifinal games will advance to the gold medal game, while the losers will compete in the bronze medal game.
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