ANTWERP, Belgium (June 25, 2022) -- The Canadian Women’s 3x3 team advanced to the semifinals of the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2022. After taking down top-seeded Germany 22-13, Canada then defeated the U.S. 14-10 to advance to the semifinals in Antwerp, Belgium.

“I am just super proud of our team,” Michelle Plouffe said after defeating the U.S. in the team's second win of the day. “We came in here, and to us, we thought we could get to the podium, but I think to other people we were an underdog, so I’m just so proud of how we fought through each match, coming back from the Spain loss [yesterday], playing our butts off against the Netherlands and then having a match this morning and then a huge win against the U.S. I’m just so proud of my teammates.”

Michelle Plouffe finished with nine points and three key assists against Germany, shooting 4-for-5 from one-point range and 2-for-3 from long range. Katherine Plouffe and Paige Crozon each scored five points while Kacie Bosch had a game-high five rebounds. Canada shot 5-for-8 from deep while Germany didn’t make a two-point shot, going scoreless in seven attempts from deep.

Michelle Plouffe found Katherine Plouffe for the first point of the game, but Germany immediately responded to tie the game. M. Plouffe then found Kacie Bosch cutting for a layup to make it 2-1 Canada, before scoring herself to give Canada a two-point lead.

K. Plouffe then found M. Plouffe for a two-point shot and a free throw to complete a three-point play and give Canada a 7-4 lead with 7:03 remaining. Next up, it was Paige Crozon who found K. Plouffe for a two-point shot to make it 9-4 Canada, and then Crozon drove to the rim for a layup to extend the lead to 10-4 with 5:23 remaining.

After Germany’s Sonja Greinacher was fouled on a two-point attempt, she made a pair of free throws to get Germany within four, and then a bucket from Luana Rodefeld trimmed the advantage to three with 4:41 remaining.

M. Plouffe then scored on back-to-back possessions, before finding K. Plouffe for an easy score, extending Canada’s lead to four, 13-9. A long turnaround jumper for Crozon extended Canada’s lead to five with 2:20 to go, and then it was Crozon again, giving Canada the six-point advantage with 2:11 remaining. After two-point shots from Bosch and Crozon, Canada led 20-12. Germany scored for two, but Canada sealed the victory on a two-point shot from M. Plouffe to win the game 22-13.

“Germany is a great team, they have a lot of chemistry, they’ve played together for a while,” Paige Crozon said after the game. “We played them in the women’s series final last year and lost so we know they’re a really great team and really had to prepare coming into this game."

In Canada’s second victory of the day, against a previously undefeated U.S. team, M. Plouffe was everywhere, on offence and defence. A two-pointer from M. Plouffe gave Canada the first points of the game and then free throws from K. Plouffe and Bosch put Canada ahead 4-2.

With the score tied at seven points apiece, Canada scored the next five points to go ahead 12-7. A long jumper from Van Lith got the US within four, and then a two-point shot also from Van Lith cut Canada’s lead to two with under a minute remaining. K. Plouffe found a cutting Bosch who was fouled under the rim and went to the line to make a free throw to give Canada a 13-10 advantage.

A jumper from K. Plouffe extended Canada’s lead to 14-10 as Canada outlasted the US to move on to the semifinals.

“The women’s series, the competition has been getting better and better,” M. Plouffe said.  “Each year that we've played in it, the level of the women, the talent that comes on the court is getting better. That’s what we want for the game and that’s what we want to help ourselves progress. I’m just so happy to play in the Women’s Series and I’m so happy to be here.”

Up next for Canada is the semifinals on Sunday, June 26 at 11:15 AM ET vs. opponent TBD.