TORONTO (April 24, 2025) – Canada Basketball announced Wednesday that Marlo Davis has been named head coach of Canada’s U19 Women’s National Team for the upcoming FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2025.

"I’m thrilled to return and continue working with this exciting generation of talent," said Davis. "Their drive and commitment to representing Canada is special, and I’m proud to be part of their journey. We’ve assembled a strong, experienced coaching staff, and I’m confident they’ll play a huge role in preparing our team for the challenges ahead this summer."

After serving as an assistant coach with Canada’s U18/U19 age-group teams for several years, including on the bronze medal winning staff at the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2023, Davis made his national team head coaching debut this past summer, leading Canada to silver at the FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup 2024.

Davis recently concluded his tenth season as head coach of Crestwood Preparatory College women’s basketball team, leading the team to four Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association (OSBA) in the last six seasons. He also serves as the Program Director and assistant coach for the men’s program. As a player, Davis spent two years at UNC Wilmington and also captured the 2018 3x3 Canada Quest National Final as a member of Team Toronto. Davis is currently working on completing his Train to Compete certification.

“We’re excited to have Marlo back leading this group after a strong performance last summer with the U18 national team,” said Steve Baur, Vice-President, Women’s High Performance.

“He’s continued to pour into the national team program and has played a key role in the development of many of our top athletes. We’re confident in the standard he sets, and excited about the leadership he’ll bring — not only to this group of players, but to a strong coaching staff that includes Nat, Isabel and Laura.

Joining Davis are assistant coaches Natalie Achonwa, Isabel Ormond, and Laura Dally. Rounding out the staff are federation delegate Jason Kerswill, team manager Elaine Sun, athletic therapist Whitney Gallant and strength and conditioning lead Taylor Tiessen.

After one of the most decorated national team playing careers Canada has ever seen, Achonwa is set to make her national team coaching debut this summer. Achonwa spent the 2024-25 season as an assistant coach for player development with the Michigan Wolverines, where she helped lead a young, upstart program to an impressive 23-11 record and an appearance in the Round of 32 at the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament.  Prior to joining the Michigan staff, Achonwa suited up for the Senior Women’s National Team in Paris, helping her become a historic four-time Olympian — a feat never before achieved by a Canadian basketball player. She retired from the program with the second most career games played with Senior Women’s National Team, after first suiting up at the age of 16. In addition to her 79 games with the National Team, Achonwa spent nine years playing in the WNBA, in addition to another six seasons spent playing professionally overseas. 

Ormond is set to be a part of a Canadian staff for the sixth-time, and the third-straight summer as an assistant coach after having helped Canada win silver medals at both the FIBA U16 Women’s AmeriCup 2023 and FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2024. In just her second season as the head coach of the UBC Thunderbirds women’s basketball team, Ormond led the program to its best season in a decade as the Thunderbirds finished atop of the Canada West Pacific Division with an 18-2 record before going on to claim a conference silver medal and fourth-place finish at the 2025 U SPORTS Women’s Final 8. Ormond was named head coach in 2023, following six years as the lead assistant for the Alberta Pandas. In her last season in Edmonton she helped guide the Pandas to their first-ever Canada West title and a bronze medal at the 2023 U SPORTS National Championships.

Like Achonwa, Dally is set to become a first-time national team coach this summer, as the Bright's Grove, Ont. product joins the staff as an assistant coach. Dally is fresh off winning a Bronze Baby as an assistant coach with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, where she has spent the last four years since rejoining her alma mater. As a player, Dally was a program great at Saskatchewan, helping the Huskies win their first-ever National Championship in 2016, in addition to winning Canada West Player of the Year and First-Team All-Canadian honours. Following her U SPORTS career,  Dally embarked on stints with both 3x3 Women’s National Team and Senior Women’s National Team, where she won gold at the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup 2017, as well as a year professionally in Germany.

The FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2025 will run July 12-20, 2025 in Brno, Czech Republic. After a silver medal at the FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup 2024, Canada will share Group B with China, Nigeria and Portugal.

Canada has medalled twice at the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup, including most recently in 2023, where a 26-point performance from Syla Swords helped Canada defeat France 80-73 in overtime to claim bronze.

Canada is currently ranked third overall in the FIBA girls age-group rankings, presented by Nike, following the conclusion of the FIBA 2024 Youth Events.