Team Canada won the bronze medal of the Women’s 3×3 Basketball Women’s World Series Final in Hangzhou, China on Sunday. The Canadians reached the semifinals before losing 21-19 to the Netherlands. France won gold after beating the Netherlands 15-12.
Canada finished in second place in Pool A with a record of two wins and one loss. They first beat the Chinese U24 team 19-10, and then Spain 20-17, before losing to Italy 18-15. In Canada’s win over China, Paige Crozon of Humboldt, Saskatchewan led Canada with eight points. Katherine Plouffe of Edmonton, Alberta led Canada with six rebounds, and Michelle Plouffe of Edmonton led Canada with three key assists. In Canada’s win over Spain, Katherine Plouffe led Canada with 10 points and three key assists. Michelle Plouffe led Canada with nine rebounds.
In the quarterfinals, Canada faced the Chinese U23 team and won 21-11. Michelle Plouffe led Canada with 10 points, five rebounds and three key assists.
The bronze medal in Hangzhou will give Team Canada confidence as they prepare for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. It was a very disappointing 2024 Olympic Games in Paris as Canada finished in fourth place. It will be interesting to see if there will be any changes to Canada’s roster in four years. It should be noted that in Hangzhou, Cassandra Brown of Vernon, British Columbia replaced Kacie Bosch of Lethbridge, Alberta.