Canada secured a commanding 86-71 victory over New Zealand in the semifinal match of the FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament held in Guadalajara on Saturday.
Leading the game for nearly 32 minutes, Canada established a substantial 30-point lead in the third quarter. Syla Swords and Delaney Gibb both contributed 17 points each, with Jasmine Bascoe adding 15 points, eight assists, and four rebounds, propelling Canada into the final. Notably, Swords displayed exceptional accuracy, shooting 6-for-8 from the field and a flawless 5-for-5 from beyond the arc.
In the upcoming final in Guadalajara on Sunday, Canada will square off against the host team, Mexico, with both the tournament title and a spot in the next phase of Olympic qualification at stake. Mexico earned their spot in the final by defeating Brazil in the other semifinal.
Having previously defeated Mexico 70-64 in the group stage, Canada is now set for a rematch in the championship clash.
The victor of the tournament will secure a slot in one of the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments scheduled for February 2028.
