Canada Basketball releases training camp rosters for Men’s, Women’s, and 3x3 Olympic teams

With the Olympics nearing, Canada is setting themselves up to make a statement in Paris this summer.

What if I told you that both the men’s and women’s 5x5, AND women’s 3x3 Canadian basketball teams were elite enough to make the podium at the Olympics? Sounds like a delulu take at first, but promise this is legitimate.

With the Paris Olympic Games approaching, Canada Basketball has released the training camp rosters for both the men’s and women’s 5x5 teams, and the women’s 3x3 team. The 5x5 programs will hold a training camp before heading off to play internationally throughout the summer, ultimately leading them to the Olympics.

These are the most talented rosters we have seen for Canada Basketball in decades. The men are coming off a bronze medal at last year’s FIBA World Cup, the women placed fourth at their own World Cup in 2022, and the women’s 3x3 are ranked highly as individuals and as a team. There is more professional talent on all sides than ever before.

It’s not a stretch to say that all three teams have the talent to take Canada far in France this summer.

3x3 Basketball: The Hottest Courts in the World

3x3 basketball is having a moment right now — deservedly so. After debuting as an event at the Tokyo Olympics, 3x3 is heading to Paris.

Played on a half-court, teams of three are trying to be the first to score 21 points, or have the highest score at the end of the 10-minute game. Inside shots are worth 1 point, shots beyond the arc are worth 2 points, and free throws are worth 1-point each.

What results is a high-paced, physical, and exciting game where strength, speed, and accuracy are rewarded.

For the first time, Canada is sending a 3x3 team to the Olympic Games, and the four women representing Canada have a great shot at hitting the podium. Canadians hold the three top spots in individual 3x3 player rankings. Katherine Plouffe is ranked first, her sister Michelle Plouffe is ranked second, and Paige Crozon is ranked third. The team is rounded out with Katie Bosch and coached by former Canadian Senior Women’s Team member Kim Gaucher.

The Plouffe sisters have also made Olympic appearances with the Senior Women’s 5x5 team, but it will be a first Olympics for Crozon and Bosch, and Gaucher’s first as a coach.

From being a self-funded team travelling the world to compete in 3x3 tournaments, to now being a favourite heading into the Olympics, Canada’s women’s 3x3 team is ready for the moment.

Women’s Team: Taking Nothing for Granted

While the men’s Canadian program has not been to the Olympics since the year 2000, the Canadian women have been holding down the fort internationally. These women are the 5th ranked program in the world according to FIBA, and have a roster filled with experienced talent.

It’s been a rollercoaster of a few years for the women’s program though. After missing the knockout rounds at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 (technically 2021), Canada Basketball decided to hire a brand new coaching staff, getting Spanish coach Victor LaPena to lead the team.

They then headed to Sydney, Australia for the FIBA Women’s Cup, playing extraordinarily, but just missing out on a medal. The lost that bronze medal game to the hosts Australia, but the finish was still a record for program history.

Their excellent bronze medal finish in the FIBA AmeriCup was not enough to book them a ticket straight to the Olympics, so the team had to compete in a series of Qualifying Tournaments. The first was held in Colombia in November, where the team easily breezed into the next round of qualifiers. Those were held in February — and it was not so much of a breeze that time around.

The Canadians ended up making it to the Olympics through a 20-point comeback by the Spanish team, a nerve-wracking and dramatic way to do it. Still, they got through and will be in Paris.

With that journey in the past, the Olympics provide a fresh start for this team, who will not be taking ANYTHING for granted as they prepare for the competition. They absolutely do not want to rely on luck anymore to get by. Which should be okay, because this team as the talent to take them far.

Missing from the initial training camp roster are the four current active WNBA players — Kia Nurse (LA Sparks), Bridget Carleton (Minnesota Lynx), Laeticia Amihere (Atlanta Dream), and Aaliyah Edwards (Washington Mystics). It’s expected that these four will join the team later on, once the WNBA goes on hiatus for the Olympics.

Regardless, these four have been putting in the work to prepare for Paris. Kia Nurse is averaging 9.1 points per game for the LA Sparks, shooting 32.4% from three. Her leadership is shining through on her young team, something that will come in handy as she helps to lead team Canada upon arrival.

Bridget Carleton has been having an incredible season in Minnesota. She’s averaging a career-high 8.3 points per game and shooting the lights out at 45.5% from three. She’s also moved up into the starting lineup for Minnesota, and has the complete trust of her coach, Cheryl Reeve. Reeve has always been high on Carleton’s playing ability, and that confidence has helped Carleton reach the next level.

Edwards on the other hand is having a standout rookie season, despite her Washington Mystics hanging at the bottom of the WNBA standings. The UConn standout and 6th overall draft pick in the 2024 WNBA draft has also been starting as of late for the Mystics, and is a finishing machine. Her footwork, strength, and physicality will help Canada out quite a lot.

Heading to training camp in Victoria BC next week will be the rest of the already announced roster, filled with former-WNBA, future-WNBA, and international talent. Kayla Alexander and Shay Colley are coming off of a French Championship. Syla Swords, the newly graduated high school student, will be heading to Michigan in the fall to play in the NCAA after already being named a McDonald’s All-American. Natalie Achonwa is back for her fourth Olympic Games, her first since becoming a mom to her son Maverick.

All in all, this team has the talent, chemistry, and experience to go far. They know it, too.

Men’s Team: The Plan is Coming Together

After winning bronze at the World Cup in September and booking their ticket to the first Olympics the Canadian Men’s program has been to since 2000, spirits were high. After years of missing out, developing talent, and growing — all the pieces are finally coming together for this team.

This week, Canada Basketball announced the Men’s training camp roster, and camp will take place in Toronto. With 20 players invited, there are a ton of cuts to be made — and that just speaks to the level of talent coming up in Canada right now.

On top of that, most of the team are NBA players — and good ones at that. First and foremost leading the team is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is coming off a historic and MVP-calibre season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, alongside Lu Dort — another Canadian prospect. Having one of the most elite players in the WORLD on Canada’s roster is extremely exciting, but it doesn’t end with SGA.

Jamal Murray is expected to play in the Olympics this summer, after missing the World Cup last year due to lack of rest between Denver’s championship run and the tournament. Murray was in peak form this season as well, especially when he hit back-to-back game winning shots in the first round of the playoffs. Then you have Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who had a breakout season in Minnesota, Oshae Brissett who just won his own NBA chip with Boston, and Andrew Nembhard who had his own breakout season in Indiana.

Two Raptors also made the training camp roster, Kelly Olynyk, and RJ Barrett — who was playing the best basketball of his life after being traded to the Raptors in January. His efficiency, physicality, and finishing were a sight to be seen and were already getting fans amped for the summer. Of course, there is also Dillon Brooks, who turns it UP when he puts that red and while jersey on.

This roster and the way they tore through the FIBA World Cup last fall is a huge reason was everyone and their brother started chiming in to declare their commitment to Team USA for the Olympics.

Regardless of who is staring them down on the court, this team has the potential to do amazing things in Paris. They have a fire under them to prove Canada is a force to be reckoned with on the international stage, a great coach in Jordi Fernandez leading them, and a deep pool of talent to push them over the edge.

Get ready, Paris. Canada is coming.