TORONTO 鈥� Olympic veterans Natalie Achonwa, Laeticia Amihere and Bridget Carleton will lead sa国际传媒 at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 Qualifying Tournament.
sa国际传媒 opens Group C play Thursday against host Japan before facing Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday.
Eleventh-ranked Belarus dropped out last week, citing COVID-19. But the remaining games of the tournament will take place as scheduled.
The top three teams at the qualifier were to advance to the World Cup, starting Sept. 22. As a result of the Belarus withdrawal, sa国际传媒, Japan and Bosnia and Herzegovina have already qualified for the World Cup which runs Sept. 22 to Oct. 1 in Sydney.
It marks sa国际传媒鈥檚 12th appearance at the World Cup. The Canadian women's best finish was third in both 1979 and 1986.
Belgrade will host two qualifying tournaments, with Washington, D.C. staging the other qualifier.
Host Australia and the Olympic champion U.S. have already qualified.聽
The Canadian are ranked fourth in the world, a career high. Japan is ranked eighth and Bosnia and Herzegovina 27th.
The Canadian team is missing Kia Nurse and Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, along with college standout Shaina Pellington, who are all injured. University of sa国际传媒icut star Aaliyah Edwards is unavailable due to NCAA commitments.
sa国际传媒 had previously named a 19-woman preliminary roster that also included Delaney Gibb, Ruth Hamblin, Alex Kiss-Rusk, Ceejay Nofuente, Katherine Plouffe, Emily Potter and Cassandre Prosper.聽
The World Cup winner of the earn a berth in the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
sa国际传媒 Roster
Natalie Achonwa, Guelph, Ont.; Kayla Alexander, Milton, Ont.; Laeticia Amihere, Mississauga, Ont.; Cassandra Brown, Vernon, sa国际传媒; Bridget Carleton, Chatham, Ont.; Shay Colley, Brampton, Ont.; Quinn Dornstauder, Regina; Nirra Fields, Montreal;. Aislinn Konig, Langley, sa国际传媒; Michelle Plouffe, Edmonton; Merissah Russell, Ottawa; Jamie Scott, Pasco, Wash.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 8, 2022
The Canadian Press
