Team Canada is in the semifinals of the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Sydney, Australia. On Wednesday evening in Canada (Thursday afternoon in Australia), Canada defeated Puerto Rico 79-60.
Kia Nurse of Hamilton, Ontario led Canada with 17 points despite only playing 23 minutes and 57 seconds. The Canadian coaching staff has limited her playing time as this is her first tournament since returning from a torn anterior cruciate ligament she suffered during the 2021 WNBA Playoffs while playing for the Phoenix Mercury.
Nurse was one of five Canadians to record double digits in scoring. Bridget Carleton of Chatham-Kent, Ontario had 15 points. Natalie Achonwa of Toronto, Ontario and Laeticia Amihere of Mississauga, Ontario had 12 points each, while Shay Colley of Halifax, Nova Scotia had 11 points. Kayla Alexander of Milton, Ontario led Canada with 13 rebounds and Colley led Canada with six assists.
Canada will now play the United States in the semifinals on Friday. Australia will play China in the other semifinal. In the quarterfinals, the United States beat Serbia 88-55, Australia beat Belgium 86-69 and China beat France 85-71.
This is a very talented Canadian squad with a significant amount of depth. Alexander has been a defensive beast, while Carleton is playing the best basketball of her life. Colley has also been extremely impressive and given Team Canada some extremely productive minutes while on the floor.
