TORONTO, ON —  July 3, 2026 — Canada Basketball andRentals.ca, Canada's leading rental housing marketplace, today announced therenewal of their national partnership and named Senior National Team athletesDillon Brooks and Kia Nurse as the inaugural recipients of the Homecourt HeroesAward presented by Rentals.ca. The multi-year agreement cements Rentals.ca'sstatus as the Official Rental Housing Marketplace Partner of Canada Basketball,positioning both organizations to connect with Canadian basketball fans fromcoast to coast as the country's top athletes prepare for a defining chapter insport, the road to LA2028.

Building on a shared commitment to community and national pride, therenewed partnership brings two flagship initiatives to the forefront: theHomecourt Heroes Storytelling Series and a prominent logo placement on both theSenior Men's and Senior Women's Team shorts.

Introducing the First-Ever Homecourt Heroes Award Recipients: DillonBrooks and Kia Nurse

The Homecourt Heroes Award Presented by Rentals.ca is a nationalstorytelling platform program built to empower and celebrate Canada Basketballathletes who continue to invest and prioritize inspiring the growth of the gameof home soil. Each year, one athlete from the Senior Men's and Women’s Teamswill be recognized, with their stories brought to life through original contentthat connects Canadian fans to the places and people that shaped theirfavourite athletes.

Brooks, a Mississauga, Ontario native, has risen to become one of themost competitive and compelling players in the game. A player with Mississauga rootsand unrelenting team-first mentality make him a fitting face for a programbuilt on community and pride. Over recent years Brooks’ has continued to makean impact on his local community through focus on supporting the nextgeneration through support for local low-income students, food bank donationsand youth basketball camps and experiences.

“This is a great honour and I’m happy to berecognized. I’m proud to be from Mississauga and loved my upbringing in myhometown and the people I grew up with. I always look for opportunities to giveback to my community and here thanks to this award, I will have thatopportunity in front of me again.”

- Dillon Brooks, Senior Men’s National TeamAthlete and Olympian

Nurse, a Hamilton, Ontario native and one of the most decorated playersin Canadian women's basketball history, has spent her career representing hercity of Hamilton with the same heart and determination that defines it.  Through her continued commitment to youthempowerment, mentorship, and community engagement, Nurse continues to createopportunities for the next generation through her Kia Nurse Elite Academy,youth mentorship, and various public speaking initiatives.

"Hamilton is the city that shaped me – ittaught me about hard work, resilience, and the power of a supportive community.Carrying that pride onto the world stage with Canada Basketball is absolutehonour. My goal has always been to ensure the next generation has even moreopportunities to thrive. I’m incredibly grateful to be one of the inauguralrecipients of the Homecourt Heroes Award. This kind of support helps us shine alight on where we come from and continue lifting young athletes across thecountry. Home is where everything starts.”

- Kia Nurse, Senior Women’s National Team Athleteand Olympian

Their stories, shaped by the communities they grew up in, demonstrate theexact purpose of what the Homecourt Heroes Award was created to celebrate. ForCanadians, it's a chance to see themselves in the game, and serves as areminder that the country's best players came from communities like theirs.

The two awardees will be officially recognized on court this evening togetheras the Senior Men's National Team competes against Puerto Rico at TD Coliseumin Hamilton as part of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers. Later thissummer, Kia and Dillon will collaborate with Canada Basketball and Rentals.caon a community initiative of their choice to give back and activate an event intheir community, and share their authentic hometown stories from their unique pointof view.

"Our athletes carry their communities with them every time theypull on that jersey, and that's important to us at Canada Basketball.Rentals.ca shares our belief that home is at the heart of this sport and thiscountry. Having a partner who is as invested in celebrating those stories as weare makes this partnership something truly special. We look forward toeverything ahead as we build toward one of the most exciting moments inCanadian basketball history."

— Stephanie Withall, Vice President, Business & Marketing Operations,Canada Basketball

On the Court and On the World Stage

Rentals.ca will also have a prominent place on the court. As part of therenewed agreement, the brand will appear on the shorts of Canada Basketball'sSenior Men’s and Women’s and Men’s and Women’s 3x3 National Teams beginningthis summer at the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in Hamilton and W'HOOP IT UP in Victoriaand continuing through to the 2027 Women's AmeriCup in San Salvador, ElSalvador and the 2027 Men's World Cup in Doha, Qatar.

“Where you live may change, but the communitiesthat shape you stay with you. We created the Homecourt Heroes Award torecognize athletes who invest in the communities that helped make them who theyare. We're proud to recognize Dillon and Kia as our inaugural recipients and tostand behind them as they carry Canada forward on the road to LA2028.”- Allie Langohr, VP of Marketing, Rentals.ca.

As Canada Basketball and its athletes build toward LA2028, Rentals.ca'scontinued investment reflects a shared belief in the power of sport to unite communitiesand a commitment to helping Canadians find their place to call home.

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About Canada Basketball

Canada Basketball is the national governing body for the sport,recognized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Governmentof Canada. A not-for-profit organization, Canada Basketball leads the growthand development of the game at all levels, from grassroots participation to high-performanceinternational competition, including the development of athletes, coaches, andofficials across the country, in alignment with its provincial and territorialsport organizations. The organization strives for excellence on the world stagewhile serving the best interests of Canada by making basketball safer, moreaccessible, more equitable, and more impactful in communitiescoast-to-coast-to-coast. Canada's Senior Women's, Men's, and 3x3 National Teams,along with its age-group programs, proudly represent the nation ininternational play, competing with the best in the world. For more informationhead to basketball.ca.

About Rentals.ca
Rentals.ca is Canada's leading rental housing marketplace,connecting renters and landlords coast to coast. Committed to helping Canadiansfind a place to truly call home, Rentals.ca makes the rental journeyeasier through trusted technology, verified listings, and communitypartnerships. For more information, visit rentals.ca.

Media Contacts

Abby Albino, Head of Brand and Fan Engagement, Canada Basketball aalbino@basketball.ca