The path to Tokyo 2020 for Team Canada women’s basketball
After two consecutive Olympic appearances at London 2012 and Rio 2016, the Canadian women’s basketball program is on the rise.
Led by WNBA All-Star Kia Nurse, fourth-ranked Canada will look to continue their Olympic streak and qualify for Tokyo 2020 via upcoming FIBA tournaments. That said, let’s highlight exactly what the Canadian women must do to earn a berth at the Olympic basketball tournament.
2019 FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Americas Tournaments
Canada’s Olympic qualification process began with the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup held in San Juan, Puerto Rico in late September. Despite a loss in the final to the United States, Canada fulfilled their goal of securing a spot in the next stage of qualification.
Kia Nurse and Miranda Ayim in the quarterfinal game at Rio 2016 against France (COC/March Blinch)
The mid-November FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournaments served as the second stage of qualification. For the Americas region, there were two tournaments featuring the top eight teams from the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup, including the United States, Canada, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Argentina.
Canada was drawn into Group A along with Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Dominican Republic and finished with a perfect 3-0 record.
READ: Canadian women go undefeated at FIBA Olympic pre-qualifying tournament
By finishing as the top team in their group, Canada advanced to the final Olympic qualification stage: the 2020 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.
2020 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments
The 2020 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments will be the final competition for teams seeking to earn Olympic berths.
A total of 16 nations will play at the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, consisting of the top six teams from the EuroBasket tournament, the top two teams from the Africa pre-qualifying tournament, the top four teams from Americas pre-qualifying tournaments, and the top four teams from Asia/Oceania.
These 16 teams will be divided across four tournaments with the top 12 teams earning qualification to Tokyo 2020. Two of the 12 qualification spots have already been claimed by host Japan as well as the United States, who qualified by winning the 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
When and where are the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments?
The final Olympic qualifying tournaments will take place from February 6-9, 2020. Belgium (Ostend), China (Foshan), France (Bourges), and Serbia (Belgrade) have been chosen as the host nations.
Who will Canada play against?
Canada was drawn into the Ostend group with host Belgium, Sweden, and Japan.
Who is on Team Canada’s roster?
Canada lifts the 2017 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup trophy in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Sunday, August 13 (Photo: FIBA).
Canada’s roster at the Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament included: Natalie Achonwa, Miranda Ayim, Bridget Carleton, Quinn Dornstauder, Aaliyah Edwards, Kim Gaucher, Ruth Hamblin, Sami Hill, Kia Nurse, Shaina Pellington, Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, and Jamie Scott.
