TORONTO, Ont. (March 15, 2021) - The future of Canadian basketball will be on full display at this year’s 2021 NCAA women’s basketball tournament. 27 Canadians will hit the court this weekend in pursuit of college basketball’s top prize when the tournament tips off on Sunday, March 21. 

Each of the four top-seeded teams in the 64-team tournament will feature a Canadian on their roster: Aaliyah Edwards (UConn), Laeticia Amihere (South Carolina), Rebecca Demeke (NC State) and Alyssa Jerome (Stanford).

Aaliyah Edwards is coming off a great rookie season with the Huskies, where she was named the 2021 Big East Sixth-Woman of the Year. The 19-year-old posted season highs of 24 points and 14 rebounds vs. Butler, as well as a first UConn double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds vs. Xavier. Her efforts on the court this season also earned her a place on the 2021 Big East All-Freshman Team. The Kingston, ON native has played for Canada since 2017 and most recently competed in the FIBA Women's AmeriCup 2019 and the FIBA Women's Olympic Pre-Qualifying Americas Tournament 2019 as a member of the Senior Women’s National Team.

Laeticia Amihere, a sophomore for the South Carolina Gamecocks, is sure to make an impression at this year’s tournament. The forward from Mississauga, ON averaged 6.5 points and 5.2 rebounds this season. At 15 years old, she wrote her name into the history books after becoming the first Canadian woman to dunk in a game. Amihere previously represented Canada at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, where she helped Canada secure their spot at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Senior Women’s National Team member Shaina Pellington will also be in the hunt for the NCAA title with the Arizona Wildcats. As a redshirt junior, the Pickering, ON native averaged 5.8 points and 1.8 rebounds per game this year. Pellington played alongside Amihere at the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament and previously represented Canada at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. ‍

CANADIANS IN THE 2021 NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Laeticia Amihere - Sophomore - Forward - 6’4” - Mississauga, ON - South Carolina

Sunday, March 21 @ 6:00pm EST vs #16 Mercer - W 79-53 (11 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist)

Tuesday, March 23 vs #6 Oregon St. - W 59-42 (8 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist) 

Sunday, March 28 @ 1:00pm EST vs #5 Georgia Tech - W 76-65 (15 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist) 

Tuesday, March 30 @ 7:00 pm EST vs #6 Texas - W 62-34 (10 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist) 

Friday, April 2 @ 6:00 pm EST vs #1 Stanford

Hailey Brown - Senior - Forward - 6’1” - Hamilton, ON - Michigan

Sunday, March 21 @ 3:00pm EST vs #11 Florida Gulf Coast - W 87-66 (10 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist)

Tuesday, March 23 vs #13 Tennessee - W 70-55 (14 points, 2 rebounds) 

Saturday, March 27 @ 3:00pm vs #2 Baylor - L 78-75 (6 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists)

Kiandra Browne - Freshman - Forward - 6’2” - Montreal, QC - Indiana

Monday, March 22 @ 2:00pm EST vs #13 VCU - W 63-32 (1 rebound) 

Wednesday, March 24 vs #12 Belmont - W 70-48 (2 points)

Saturday, March 27 @ 6:00pm vs #1 NC State - W 73-70 (3 points, 2 rebounds)

Monday, March 29 @ 9:00pm vs #4 Arizona - L 66-53 (1 rebound, 1 assist)

Jessica Clarke - Freshman - Centre - 6’3” - North Vancouver, BC - Washington State

Sunday, March 21 @ 9:30pm EST vs #8 South Florida - L 57-53

Rebecca Demeke - Freshman - Forward - 6’0” - Toronto, ON - NC State

Sunday, March 21 @ 4:00pm EST vs #16 North Carolina A&T - W 79-58 (2 rebounds)

Tuesday, March 23 vs #8 South Florida - W 79-67

Saturday, March 27 @ 6:00pm vs #4 Indiana - L 73-70

Micah Dennis - Sophomore - Guard - 5’9” - Toronto, ON - Oklahoma State

Sunday, March 21 @ 1:00pm EST vs #9 Wake Forest - W 84-61 (2 points, 2 rebounds) 

Tuesday, March 23 vs #1 Stanford - L 73-62 (2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist) 

Aaliyah Edwards - Freshman - Forward - 6’3” - Kingston, ON - UConn

Sunday, March 21 @ 8:00pm EST vs #16 High Point - W 102-59 (17 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist)

Tuesday, March 23 vs #8 Syracuse - W 83-74 (19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) 

Saturday, March 27 @ 1:00pm vs #5 Iowa - W 92-72 (18 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists)

Monday, March 29 @ 7:00pm vs #2 Baylor - W 69-67 (4 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist) 

Friday, April 2 @ 9:30pm vs #3 Arizona

Yvonne Ejim - Freshman - Forward - 6’1” - Calgary, AB - Gonzaga

Monday, March 22 @ 4:00pm EST vs #12 Belmont University - L 64-59 (2 points, 2 rebounds) 

Makayla Ennis - Sophomore - Guard/Forward - 6’0 - Brampton, ON - Virginia Tech

Sunday, March 21 @ 12:00pm EST vs #10 Marquette - W 70-63

Tuesday, March 23 vs #2 Baylor - L 90-48 (1 assist) 

Louise Forsyth - Senior - Guard - 6’0” - Langley, BC - Gonzaga

Monday, March 22 @ 4:00pm EST vs #12 Belmont University - L 64-59

Mael Gilles - Senior - Forward - 6’1” - Montreal-Nord, QC - Rutgers

Monday, March 22 @ 12:00pm EST vs #11 BYU - L 69-66 (2 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists) 

Jada Grannum - Freshman - Forward - 6’3” - Mississauga, ON - Middle Tennessee

Sunday, March 21 @ 2:00pm EST vs #13 Tennessee - L 87-62

Janika Griffith-Wallace - Junior (RS) - Guard - 5’9” - Brampton, ON - VCU

Monday, March 22 @ 2:00pm EST vs #4 Indiana - L 63-32 (3 rebounds, 1 assist) 

Ahriahna Grizzle - Sophomore - Guard - 5’9” - Toronto, ON - Alabama

Monday, March 22 @ 12:00pm EST vs #10 North Carolina - W 80-71

Wednesday, March 24 vs #2 Maryland - L 100-64

Alyssa Jerome - Senior - Forward - 6’3” - Toronto, ON - Stanford

Sunday, March 21 @ 10:00pm EST vs #16 Utah Valley - W 87-44 (5 rebounds, 1 assist) 

Tuesday, March 23 vs #8 Oklahoma State - W 73-62

Sunday, March 28 @ 3:00pm vs #5 Missouri State - W 89-62 (1 assist) 

Tuesday, March 30 @ 9:00pm vs #2 Louisville - W 78-63

Friday, April 2 @ 6:00pm vs #1 South Carolina

Brynn Masikewich - Sophomore - Forward - 6’3” - Calgary, AB - UCLA

Monday, March 22 @ 10:00pm EST vs #14 Wyoming - W 69-48

Wednesday, March 24 vs #6 Texas - L 71-62

Christina Morra - Junior - Forward - 6’2” - Toronto, ON - Wake Forest

Sunday, March 21 @ 1:00pm EST vs #8 Oklahoma State L 84-61 (18 points, 3 rebounds) 

Shaina Pellington - Junior (RS) - Guard - 5’8” - Pickering, ON - Arizona

Monday, March 22 @ 2:00pm EST vs #14 Stony Brook - W 79-44 (5 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists) 

Wednesday, March 24 vs #11 BYU - W 52-46 (5 points, 1 rebound)

Saturday, March 27 @ 8:00pm vs #2 Texas A&M - W 74-59 (6 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists) 

Monday, March 29 @ 9:00pm vs #4 Indiana - W 66-53 (2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist)

Friday, April 2 @ 9:30pm vs #1 UConn

Samantha Robinson - Sophomore (RS) - Forward - 6’1” - Bradford, ON - VCU

Monday, March 22 @ 2:00pm EST vs #4 Indiana - L 63-32 (8 points, 5 rebounds) 

Merissah Russell - Freshman - Guard - 5’11” - Ottawa, ON - Louisville

Monday, March 22 @ 8:00pm EST vs #15 Marist - W 74-43 (3 rebounds) 

Wednesday, March 24 vs #7 Northwestern - W 62-53

Sunday, March 28 @ 7:00pm EDT vs #6 Oregon - W 60-42

Tuesday, March 30 @ 9:00pm vs #1 Stanford - L 78-63

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Sage Stobbart - Junior (RS) - Post - 6’3” - North Vancouver, BC - UC Davis

Monday, March 22 @ 7:30pm EST vs #5 Missouri St - L 70-51 (5 points, 5 rebounds) 

Sarah Te-Biasu - Freshman - Guard - 5’5” - Montreal, QC - VCU 

Monday, March 22 @ 2:00pm EST vs #4 Indiana - L 63-32 (7 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists) 

Mackenzie Trpcic - Senior (RS) - Guard - 5’7” - Hamilton, ON - UC Davis

Monday, March 22 @ 7:30pm EST vs #5 Missouri St - L 70-51 (3 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists) 

Maryama Turkstra - Freshman - Forward - 6’2” - Dundas, ON - Central Michigan

Sunday, March 21 @ 12:00pm EST vs #5 Iowa - L 87-72

Keishana Washington - Junior - Guard - 5’7” - Pickering, ON - Drexel

Monday, March 22 @ 12:00pm EST vs #3 Georgia - L 67-53 (7 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists) 

Anika Weekes - Sophomore (RS) - Guard - 5’10” - Toronto, ON - Central Michigan

Sunday, March 21 @ 12:00pm EST vs #5 Iowa - L 87-72 (5 points, 2 rebounds) ‍

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Izzi Zingaro - Freshman - Forward - 6’4” - Bolton, ON - Iowa State

Monday, March 22 @ 6:00pm EST vs #10 Michigan State - W 79-75

Wednesday, March 24 vs #2 Texas A&M - L 84-82