A mural featuring the 2015 FIBA Americas Women’s Champions was unveiled at the Saville Centre on Friday, honouring Canada’s historic gold medal triumph in Edmonton last summer. The SWNT clinched a 2016 Olympic berth by defeating Cuba, leaving the court to chants of “Rio! Rio!” from a sellout crowd of patriotic flag-waving Canadians.

"I was there that day and it was an absolutely electric day,” Edmonton mayor Don Iveson said. “Not just in the gym but for our city and our country to see our National Women's Team perform.

“I know all Edmontonians are proud of the team and we’re so thrilled to be able to remember now with this mural that great occasion when our team qualified for Rio."

Measuring over a dozen feet tall, the mural captures the unbridled elation felt in the Saville Centre on a magical August night. It depicts the entire team – players, coaches, and staff – showing off their new hardware.

“It brings back a lot of great memories,” said SWNT head coach Lisa Thomaidis, who wore a large smile upon first seeing the design.

“It certainly wasn’t that long ago that we were securing a berth to Rio in Canada, in Edmonton. I can’t tell you how special that was for us and for these women to be able to do it at home.”

Since 2013, the SWNT has made its home and training base at the Saville Centre, a 32,000-plus square-foot multi-sport facility located on the University of Alberta’s south campus. Phase 1 of its 2016 training camp is underway in Edmonton, where the team has gathered to begin preparation for the Rio Games in August.

"Anyone who understands international basketball knows that players are nomads, wanderers, vagabonds,” said John Mills, co-chair of Canada Basketball’s Board of Directors. “They go from gym to gym, it's hard to find a place to call home, and a place to hang your pictures, a place for your trophies or your medals.

“We have felt for the past number of years that Edmonton is our home. Not only have you given us a wall to hang our pictures, you have made us part of the wall with this glorious mural."

The mural, which features an augmented reality component that visitors can access on mobile devices, was unveiled by the Edmonton Grads Basketball Centre as part of ongoing efforts to recognize women in basketball.

"Last August we witnessed the excitement of hosting the FIBA Americas tournament and this team left a huge mark on the City of Edmonton and the sport of basketball,” said Edmonton Grads representative Bob Butlin, who noted registration in Edmonton youth basketball has surged since.

“We owe all of that growth to the Canadian National Team that was here last year and that FIBA tournament and (the team’s) presence in that building."

Appropriately titled “Inspiring A Nation”, the SWNT mural is one of just two adorning the Saville Centre’s walls. The other commemorates the Edmonton Commercial Grads, who won four Olympic titles and posted a 502-20 record between 1915 and 1940.

"The Edmonton Grads and their legendary achievements made Edmonton the capital of women's basketball; the achievements in this building in 2015 by the Senior Women’s National Team have reinforced Edmonton as the home of Canadian women's basketball,” Mills said.

“This mural acknowledges great Canadian achievements, but also serves as an inspiration to players who may someday see themselves in the future expansion of this mural, recognizing yet-unimagined victories.

“We're so glad that the Saville Centre has lots of space, lots of walls, and we expect to fill those walls with great achievements by our National Team."

‍

By: Brian Swane

‍