For the first time Canada is represented in women’s 3×3 basketball at the Olympic Games. Here is my interview with one of Canada’s most pivotal players, Michelle Plouffe of Edmonton, Alberta.
Q: Your team is among the best in the world, but you squeaked into the Olympics. Were you surprised at how challenging it was to qualify for Paris?
A: “Definitely challenging. There are a lot of good teams. I think we thought our journey would have been different and shorter to get here. It is what it is, and we are happy to be here. I think it has made us more prepared and more tough. The more you go through something like that, the more resilience you can build. It has been what it is for a reason.”
Q: How meaningful is it to represent Canada at the Olympic Games with your twin sister?
A: “It is so fun. This is the second time we have been at an Olympics together (first time was at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in women’s 3×3 basketball. Just being on this team that we started with Paige Crozon in 2019 has meant a lot. Just being able to build something together. We have learned a lot and we are having a lot of fun. It has been worth it.”
Q: You previously played 5×5 basketball. Now you are in 3×3 basketball. Tell me about the transition you have gone through in your preparation in switching events in the same sport.
A: “It is completely different, in terms of movements on the court and how you even go into a game. There is less you can control on the court because the flow has so much transition. There is more physicality and the reffing depends on the game. You cannot really scout teams’s styles as much because there are not a lot of dead balls, and you cannot really run a lot of set plays. It has been a lot of learning through experience. It is not something you can pick up by playing one tournament. Layer by layer, we’ve been getting experience and I guess expertise in the 3×3 game.”
Q: Tell me about your competition, and how you stack up against the Americans.
A: “We have never lost to the USA so far. it has always been a good game, and always a good battle. We respect what they have been doing in the 3×3 circuit as well. Every game is going to be super tough. There are no easy games for sure. There are only eight teams here and anyone can beat anyone at any point, and that is the fun of 3×3. That is why our family gets so stressed out at home. There are going to be a lot of tough games, so we are excited.”
Q: What can you tell me about Paige Crozon and Kacie Bosch?
A: “I think we have a really good close knit group and that helps on the court. We are just willing to work together, hear each other out, and try to put each other in the best position possible, which is easier on a smaller team. That is just the reality of the situation. When you are on a team of 12, not everybody can use their strengths. We are trying to use everyone’s strengths up. I am excited for them. This is their first Olympics. They are seeing everything for the first time. It is so fun to go through it again with them.
Q: You did not compete in 3×3 basketball at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021. By the fact you did not have a chance to represent Canada fuel some fire this time around?
A: “When we started, there was an Olympic goal in mind. If it was not going to be Tokyo, it was going to be Paris. It worked out how it was supposed to work out. I believed God had a plan for this team and for me and for us. The journey has been a journey for a reason. Meeting our expectations would be a cherry on top. That won’t make the journey worth it. I think the journey has already been worth it.”
Q: Do you believe a gold medal for Canada is attainable?
A: “That is the mission. Like I said, it has already been a journey of a lifetime. I would be super pumped to come away with a medal. It is definitely our goal, but anything can happen in 3×3. It is just unpredictable.”