SPOKANE, Wash. -- Gonzaga women's basketball player
Yvonne Ejim is one of 12 athletes that have been named to Canada's women's basketball roster for Paris 2024, which will be Team Canada's eighth appearance in the Olympic women's basketball tournament since it debuted at Montreal 1976.
"I am so incredibly happy and over joyed at the fact that I get to represent my country at the Olympic level and that I get to compete at that stage," Ejim said. "It was always a dream of mine ever since I started Canada Basketball and the fact that now I am living it is beyond what I imagined. I am also so proud of myself for continuing to work until this point, but I think the best thing was all the people that supported me up until this point, including my family, all the teammates I've had, and coaches that I've been coached under. This truly would not have been possible without all of them, so I am grateful! This is achievement is also not without the grace the God and also my brother Kenny looking after me. I am very excited for the upcoming competition this summer and once again blessed with the opportunity to wear Canada across my chest because there truly is no feeling like it!"
The Canadian women successfully qualified for their fourth consecutive Olympic Games by finishing third in the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualification Tournament in Sopron, Hungary this past February.
Canada's best Olympic result in women's basketball was a fourth-place finish at Los Angeles 1984. Currently fifth in the FIBA world rankings, Canada finished fourth at the most recent FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in 2022, and secured a bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup.
Last week, Canada defeated Portugal 91-65 in an exhibition game in Victoria, B.C. The team will now travel overseas to Belgium and Spain as they continue their training camp and exhibition schedule before arriving in France.
The women's basketball tournament will take place July 27 to August 11 (Day 1 to 16). Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille will host the preliminary phase before the final phase shifts to Paris and Bercy Arena. Canada's first game of the tournament will be on July 29 (11:15 a.m. ET / 8:15 a.m. PT) against host France.
Women's Basketball Athletes at Paris 2024:
Natalie Achonwa (Guelph, Ont.)
Kayla Alexander (Milton, Ont.)
Laeticia Amihere (Mississauga, Ont.)
Bridget Carleton (Chatham, Ont.)
Shay Colley (Brampton, Ont.)
Aaliyah Edwards (Kingston, Ont.)
Yvonne Ejim (Calgary, Alta.)
Nirra Fields (Montreal, Que.)
Sami Hill (Toronto, Ont.)
Kia Nurse (Hamilton, Ont.)
Cassandre Prosper (Montreal, Que.)
Syla Swords (Sudbury, Ont.)
