CANADA’S SENIOR WOMEN’S FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR FIBA AMERICAS CHAMPIONSHIP
Last Updated: September 22, 2009
SAO PAULO, Brazil — Canada’s Senior Women’s National Team (SWNT) will play a two-game exhibition series beginning Thursday night against the Brazilian National Team as a final tune-up for the FIBA Americas Championship for Women, taking place Sept. 23-27 in Cuiaba, Brazil.
The first match takes place this evening in Sao Paulo at 9:30 p.m. (local time), while the second game will tip off on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 9:30 p.m. (local time) in Cuiaba.
“We are looking forward to these two games with Brazil,” said Allison McNeill, head coach for the SWNT. “They are the No. 1 seed in the tournament so it will be a great test.”
These will be the first matches for Team Canada during this final training phase. Throughout the summer, the SWNT has gained valuable competition experience playing against talented national teams in China and Cuba, as well as beating NCAA Division 1 Clemson University in a two-game exhibition series in Canada in August.
The SWNT roster includes veteran point guard, Teresa Gabriele (formerly Kleindienst) from Mission, B.C., who played on the 2000 Sydney Olympic Team as well as the 2006 SWNT that competed in the FIBA World Championship in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
“We have a great mix of youth and experience,” Gabriele said earlier this week. “The younger women on the team bring energy and the older ones have experience and we just gel really well on and off the floor. Of any team I have been on the past 12 years, I think this team has a chance to qualify. We’ve connected on all levels and we just have an amazing shot.”
Joining Gabriele are veteran forwards Chelsea Aubry from Kitchener, Ont., and Kim Smith from Mission, B.C. Both players were also members of the 2006 FIBA World Championship squad.
Natalie Achonwa, a 6’2” forward from Guelph, Ont., is the youngest player on the team. Although still in high school, Achonwa has already represented Canada at the highest level, having played on the Junior Women’s National Team that finished in fourth place at the 2009 U19 FIBA World Championship earlier this summer.
McNeill has her team squarely focused on the prize. “We are not too concerned about the outcome of these [exhibition] games but will use them to work on some of the things we have been preparing for the World Qualifying Tournament.”
The FIBA America Championship is the highlight of the season where the women will be looking to qualify for the 2010 FIBA World Championships in the Czech Republic. The top three teams at the tournament will qualify for the World Championships. Canada is in Pool A along with Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and host team Brazil.
Canada last attended the FIBA World Championship for Women in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2006, finishing 10th.
Fans can stay up to date with the SWNT through Facebook, Twitter and blogs using the following sites:
1. Join the Canada Basketball facebook fanpage
2. Follow Coach McNeill on Twitter using @AllisonMcNeill
3. Read co-captain Kim Smith's blog
4. Check out Coach McNeill’s blog Beyond the Court
5. SWNT 2009 FIBA Americas landing page under “National Teams” on www.basketball.ca
6. Visit the official tournament at www.brazil2009.fibaamericas.com
Below is the SWNT schedule and rosters for staff and athletes.
2009 SENIOR WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER
TEAM CANADA SCHEDULE - FIBA AMERICAS CHAMPIONSHIP:
Group Composition:
Group A: Canada, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Brazil
Group B: Argentina, Chile, Venezuela and Cuba
Schedule:
Wednesday, September 23: Dominican Republic vs. Canada
Thursday, September 24: Canada vs. Puerto Rico
Friday, September 25: Canada vs. Brazil
Saturday, September 26:
Classification round (5-8)/ A3 vs. B4 / B3 vs A4
Semifinals A1 vs. B2 / B1 vs. A2
Sunday, September 27: Finals
7th place: Loser classification round
5th place: Winners classification round
Bronze: Losers semifinals
Gold: Winners semifinals
The first match takes place this evening in Sao Paulo at 9:30 p.m. (local time), while the second game will tip off on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 9:30 p.m. (local time) in Cuiaba.
“We are looking forward to these two games with Brazil,” said Allison McNeill, head coach for the SWNT. “They are the No. 1 seed in the tournament so it will be a great test.”
These will be the first matches for Team Canada during this final training phase. Throughout the summer, the SWNT has gained valuable competition experience playing against talented national teams in China and Cuba, as well as beating NCAA Division 1 Clemson University in a two-game exhibition series in Canada in August.
The SWNT roster includes veteran point guard, Teresa Gabriele (formerly Kleindienst) from Mission, B.C., who played on the 2000 Sydney Olympic Team as well as the 2006 SWNT that competed in the FIBA World Championship in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
“We have a great mix of youth and experience,” Gabriele said earlier this week. “The younger women on the team bring energy and the older ones have experience and we just gel really well on and off the floor. Of any team I have been on the past 12 years, I think this team has a chance to qualify. We’ve connected on all levels and we just have an amazing shot.”
Joining Gabriele are veteran forwards Chelsea Aubry from Kitchener, Ont., and Kim Smith from Mission, B.C. Both players were also members of the 2006 FIBA World Championship squad.
Natalie Achonwa, a 6’2” forward from Guelph, Ont., is the youngest player on the team. Although still in high school, Achonwa has already represented Canada at the highest level, having played on the Junior Women’s National Team that finished in fourth place at the 2009 U19 FIBA World Championship earlier this summer.
McNeill has her team squarely focused on the prize. “We are not too concerned about the outcome of these [exhibition] games but will use them to work on some of the things we have been preparing for the World Qualifying Tournament.”
The FIBA America Championship is the highlight of the season where the women will be looking to qualify for the 2010 FIBA World Championships in the Czech Republic. The top three teams at the tournament will qualify for the World Championships. Canada is in Pool A along with Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and host team Brazil.
Canada last attended the FIBA World Championship for Women in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2006, finishing 10th.
Fans can stay up to date with the SWNT through Facebook, Twitter and blogs using the following sites:
1. Join the Canada Basketball facebook fanpage
2. Follow Coach McNeill on Twitter using @AllisonMcNeill
3. Read co-captain Kim Smith's blog
4. Check out Coach McNeill’s blog Beyond the Court
5. SWNT 2009 FIBA Americas landing page under “National Teams” on www.basketball.ca
6. Visit the official tournament at www.brazil2009.fibaamericas.com
Below is the SWNT schedule and rosters for staff and athletes.
2009 SENIOR WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER
| Player | Position | Height | Hometown | School/PTSO Club (2008/09) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Achonwa, Natalie | Forward | 6'2" | Guelph, ON | NEDA |
| Adams, Jordan | Forward | 6'2" | Overton, NV | Birmingham Power (NWBL) |
| Adrian, Kelsey | Forward | 6'1" | Langley, BC | U CAL Berkley (NCAA) |
| Aubry, Chelsea | Forward | 6'2" | Kitchener, ON | BSS Koxice (Slovakia) |
| Bekkering, Janelle | Forward | 6'1" | Taber, AB | Gonzaga (NCAA) |
| Chapdelaine, Kaela | Guard | 5'10" | Okotoks, AB | MBK Ruzemberok (Slovakia) |
| Evans, Leanne | Post | 6'2" | Port Moody, BC | University of British Columbia (CIS) |
| Gabriele, Teresa | Guard | 5'5" | Mission, BC | Simon Fraser University (CIS) |
| Pinske, Megan | Guard | 5'9" | Coquitlam, B.C. | Western Washington University (NCAA) |
| Riverin, Kadie | Guard | 5'9" | Ottawa, ON | Universite BC Neuchatel (Switzerland) |
| Smith, Kim | Forward | 6'1" | Mission, BC | Sacramento Monarchs (WNBA) |
| Tathman, Tamara | Forward | 6'1" | Brampton, ON | Halles (Germany) |
| Weigl, Laurelle | Post | 6'4" | Stony Plain, AB | Simon Fraser University (CIS) |
2009 SENIOR WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM STAFF
| Name | Position | Hometown |
|---|---|---|
| Allison McNeill | Head Coach | Surrey, BC |
| Lisa Thomaidis | Assistant Coach | Saskatoon, SK - University of Saskatchewan |
| Mike McNeill | Assistant Coach | Surrey, BC |
| Choyal Brown | Video Scout | New Westminster, BC |
| Julie Rodrigue | Team Manager | Ottawa, ON |
| Shannon Morrison | Therapist | Brockville, ON |
| Sarah Kim | Doctor | Toronto, ON |
TEAM CANADA SCHEDULE - FIBA AMERICAS CHAMPIONSHIP:
Group Composition:
Schedule:
Semifinals A1 vs. B2 / B1 vs. A2
5th place: Winners classification round
Bronze: Losers semifinals
Gold: Winners semifinals
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