Canada Basketball mourns the loss of long-time staff member Maria-Leena Clarke following a lengthy battle with breast cancer.

“ML", as she was affectionately known to friends and colleagues, joined Canada Basketball in 2011 and spent nine years as the Director of Marketing and Partnerships before she was named Executive Director of the Canada Basketball Foundation in 2019.

During her time with Canada Basketball, Clarke oversaw the organization’s day-to-day marketing and sponsorship initiatives, as well for several international competitions, including the 2015 FIBA Americas Women's Championship in Edmonton and several FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers 2019 games hosted across Canada.  She also led the relaunch of the Canada Basketball Foundation™ which raises funds to support safe, equitable, and inclusive basketball programming across Canada.

An accomplished marketing professional, Clarke’s career began at the Walt Disney Company’s international headquarters in Europe, before spending nearly a decade working for the sports broadcaster Eurosport, most recently as Head of External Relations and Strategic Partnerships, before joining Canada Basketball.

Originally from Yorkton, Saskatchewan and a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan, Clarke was instrumental in helping grow basketball across Canada and was especially proud of the game's development within her home province.

Canada Basketball will donate in her memory to Gilda’s Club Greater Toronto (Gilda’s Toronto) which provides patients, their families and friends with emotional support and practical resources. 

Clarke is survived by her husband Thomas, and her two children, Samuel and Eva-Leena.