VICTORIA, B.C. – Canada Basketball and Rifflandia are excited to announce the return of W'HOOP IT UP as Canada's Senior Women's National Team hosts the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball National Champions, UCLA Women’s Basketball on July 22, 2026 for an exhibition at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria, B.C. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. with gates opening at 6 p.m.

The game will provide Canadian fans with an opportunity to see the Senior Women's National Team compete on home soil as it prepares for the FIBA Women's Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament in August 2026.

"Victoria has become a special home away from home for our Senior Women's National Team, and we're thrilled to return once again this summer," said Michael Bartlett, President & CEO of Canada Basketball. "The support we've received from the Greater Victoria basketball community over the past several years has been incredible, and this game against UCLA will provide an important opportunity for our athletes and coaching staff as we continue our preparation for the FIBA Women's Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament. We look forward to welcoming fans back to Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre for another memorable night of basketball."

Since first arriving in Greater Victoria in 2023, Canada's Senior Women's National Team has continued to build a strong connection with local fans. The program set a then-record for home-game attendance during the Rim2Rim exhibition series against Japan in 2023 before surpassing that mark in 2024 during W'HOOP IT UP against Portugal, drawing more than 5,000 fans to Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

Canada Basketball's Senior Women's National Team enters the summer ranked 7th in the FIBA Women's Basketball World Rankings and looks to build momentum as they continue their journey toward LA 2028.

UCLA Bruins Women's Basketball enters the contest following a historic 2025–26 season that saw the program capture its first NCAA Division I National Championship under Head Coach and 2025 National Coach of the Year, Cori Close. The game will mark the Bruins' first appearance on Canadian soil.

“We’re always looking for opportunities to get better, so it was a no-brainer to sign on for W'HOOP IT UP,” said Cori Close, Head Coach of UCLA Women’s Basketball Team.  “It will be such a great experience for us to play against Canada Basketball’s Senior Women’s National Team. We’re excited to create some ‘Remember When’s’ while we’re up north, compete at the highest level, and become closer as a team.”

Rifflandia has been a proud partner and producer with Canada Basketball since the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Tokyo 2020. Building on that relationship, the company has annually welcomed the Senior Women's National Team to Greater Victoria since 2023, producing training camps and exhibition games that have connected Canadian fans with the country's top athletes while further cementing the region's reputation as a hub for high-performance sport.

"We're incredibly proud to host Canada Basketball’s Senior Women’s National Team and UCLA in what we believe will be the highest-profile women's basketball game ever played in Canada," said Vanessa Leong, Chief Operating Officer of Rifflandia. "Since first partnering with Canada Basketball ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Qualifying Tournament, we've been committed to bringing world-class basketball to Greater Victoria. This game is a celebration of how far the women's game has come and an opportunity for fans to witness some of the sport's very best athletes on Canadian soil."    

Tickets start at $15 + s/c and go on sale to the public on June 19, 2026 at 10 a.m. PT. Visit selectyourtickets.com to purchase.