TORONTO (Mar. 19, 2026) — Canada Basketball announced Thursday the coaching staff for the U18 Women’s National Team ahead of the U18 Women’s National Team Selection Camp Fuelled by Gatorade, set for March 26–29.

Dianna Ros has been named head coach, marking her first appointment as a head coach within Canada Basketball’s women’s high-performance program.

Ros, who most recently served as an apprentice coach with the Senior Women’s National Team at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup, brings experience across both the U SPORTS and national team pathway. Named head coach of the University of Toronto Varsity Blues in 2024, she previously led Bishop’s to back-to-back RSEQ championship final appearances, earning conference coach of the year honours in 2023.

At the national level, Ros has contributed in multiple roles, including as an assistant coach and performance analyst with Canada’s youth programs. She was part of the staff for the U16 Women’s National Team in 2023 and has also worked with the U17 Women’s National Team.

Joining Ros on the bench are assistant coaches Courtnay Pilypaitis and Claire Meadows, both bringing international and U SPORTS experience.

Pilypaitis, a 2012 Olympian with Canada, was an assistant coach with the U19 Women’s National Team at the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup last year. She brings more than a decade of collegiate coaching experience and was recently named associate head coach at Cornell University after previous roles at Fresno State and UMBC.

Meadows is the head coach of the Queen’s Gaels and has led the program to multiple U SPORTS Final 8 appearances and OUA championship finals. Internationally, she has served as an assistant coach with the German women’s national team, helping secure Olympic qualification and contributing to the program’s historic debut at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Canada will compete at the FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup this summer, with dates and location to be announced.

The pathway toward international competition will begin with the selection camp, where top athletes from across the country will compete for a spot on the final roster. Selected athletes will advance to a final preparation camp ahead of competition this summer.

U18 Women’s National Team Coaching and Support Staff:
Dianna Ros — Head Coach
Courtnay Pilypaitis — Assistant Coach
Claire Meadows — Assistant Coach
Jason Kerswill — Delegate
Whitney Gallant — Therapist
Brett Speedy — Performance Analyst

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