Canada’s 4 WNBA stars might make a critical affect on the 2024 Paris Olympics

Whereas a variety of the discuss ladies’s Olympic basketball rightfully has been about Crew USA, there’s one other nation constructing a reasonably sturdy crew: Canada.

After a disappointing early exit on the Tokyo Olympics, the Senior Canadian Girls’s Nationwide Crew redeemed themselves with a historic fourth-place end on the FIBA World Cup in September 2022. But, their Olympic hopes have been almost dashed in February after they nearly didn’t make it out of the Girls’s Olympic Qualifying Match in Sopron, Hungary. It took a greater than 20-point comeback victory from Spain to assist Canada squeeze into the Olympics.

Now that Canada goes to Paris, they’re extra motivated than ever to do effectively. There are a lot of returning gamers, in addition to the potential for some new faces to make the squad. And although the ultimate roster has not but been formally introduced, the WNBA’s 4 Canadians are all however a lock to make the crew.

Bridget Carleton, Kia Nurse, Aaliyah Edwards and Laeticia Amihere are nonetheless with their WNBA groups, however will most probably be a part of Canada nearer to the Olympic Video games.

Bridget Carleton (Minnesota Lynx)

Bridget Carleton is having a incredible yr with the Minnesota Lynx, and the guard out of Chatham, Ontario is in peak kind heading into the Olympics.

She scored a crew excessive 23 factors within the Lynx’s Commissioner’s Cup Championship victory, capturing 6-for-8 from 3-point vary and serving to Minnesota safe the win over the New York Liberty. She’s just lately shifted into the beginning lineup for the Lynx, and their head coach Cheryl Reeve has emphasised time and time once more how a lot belief she has in Carleton.

Carleton is capturing 44 p.c from 3 this season, one thing that may certainly come in useful heading into the Olympics. The factor that Canada struggled with within the Olympic Qualifying match was capturing, particularly from distance. Carleton’s sizzling streak will assist get them going as soon as she joins the crew.

As she will get a little bit extra skilled expertise, Carleton’s duties on the nationwide crew improve as effectively. She is part of the subsequent era of veterans on Canada’s crew, and in Paris she’s going to hopefully exhibit her management.

Kia Nurse (Los Angeles Sparks)

Photograph by Juan Ocampo/NBAE by way of Getty Photos

Kia Nurse has been having an excellent season along with her new crew in LA. With a younger roster, Nurse has stepped up as one of many Los Angeles Sparks’ vet leaders—one thing she has been on the Canadian crew over the previous few years.

Now a number of years post-ACL restoration, Nurse is wanting extra like herself, capturing effectively from 3-point vary and being a robust defensive presence for the Sparks. She sat out of February’s Qualifying Match with an damage, which was one of many causes the crew struggled. They missed her protection, her capturing and her on-court management. Heading into the Olympics, Nurse will likely be an enormous a part of the hassle.

Aaliyah Edwards (Washington Mystics)

Photograph by Emilee Chinn/Getty Photos

The Canadian rookie has been balling within the DMV this season. Aaliyah Edwards was drafted No. 6 general to the Washington Mystics on this yr’s draft, and with Washington’s prolonged damage record, she has been taking part in a variety of minutes.

Followers who’ve adopted Edwards from her days at UConn and with the Canadian nationwide crew knew that she could be pro-ready instantly. Now, followers of the Mystics are attending to see for themselves how Edwards generally is a enormous presence within the paint.

She is averaging 8.8 factors and 6.3 rebounds per sport as a rookie, and will likely be a two-time Olympian when she joins Canada to move to Paris. Whereas she didn’t get an excessive amount of taking part in time in Tokyo in 2021, she could have extra accountability on the crew now. Edwards nonetheless will seemingly play behind vets like Natalie Achonwa and Kayla Alexander, however she’s going to present an excellent supply of depth for Canada.

Laeticia Amihere (Atlanta Dream)

Photograph by Ronald Martinez/Getty Photos

Laeticia Amihere will get restricted minutes for the Atlanta Dream, however that doesn’t imply she shouldn’t be a hooper. The South Carolina graduate and 2022 NCAA nationwide champion could make an affect along with her velocity and driving potential, and her size helps her get previous her defender.

When she performs for Canada, she typically makes a right away affect on the stat sheet. She’s high-energy, lively and feisty—all issues that lend effectively to FIBA-style basketball. Worldwide basketball can get gritty, is refereed in a different way and rewards gamers with energy. It’s unlucky that Amihere isn’t getting extra minutes within the WNBA, however there ins’t any doubt she will likely be prepared when her identify is named for Canada.

There are excessive hopes for Canada heading into the Summer time Olympics. The Canadian crew has a variety of expertise, but in addition so much to show. It could be the final experience for some iconic Canadian hoopers as effectively, ones who’ve been an enormous a part of the expansion of this program.

For now, these 4 WNBA gamers are nonetheless with their squads, however as soon as they be a part of Canada, it’s sport on!