Victoria, BC (June 27, 2024) - The Canadian Senior Women’s National Team opened their pre-Olympic exhibition schedule with a 91-65 victory over Portugal on Wednesday in the W'Hoop It Up competition at Save-On Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria, B.C.

“Being here in Victoria is a gift for us,” Team Canada head coach Víctor Lapeña said. “Everything is perfect, the facilities, the people, the weather. Everything was perfect to have this opportunity to come and play Portugal. I have to say a thank you to Portugal. They arrived three days ago so they could adjust themselves to [the time zone to] play today.”

Playing in front of Canadian fans on home soil, Nirra Fields led the way with an 18-point performance for Team Canada, while team captain Natalie Achonwa added 16 points and Syla Swords scored 11 points, including a trio of three-pointers. Yvonne Ejim added nine rebounds in the win.

“We love to play at home,” Fields said. “It felt like a home game, a real home game. The energy was amazing and we came out and tried to match it. We love Victoria and it’s been great.”

Canada shot 59 percent from the floor, including 40 percent from beyond the arc, while holding Portugal to 31 percent shooting for the game. The Canadians never trailed, opening the game on an 11-0 run.

“I’m very happy, especially with the energy and the attitude of the team [today],” Lapeña said. “A lot of work to do, a lot of connections to adjust, but I think it’s a good start in terms of energy level.”

The Canadians led by eight, 25-17, after the opening quarter. They outscored Portugal 20-10 in the second to take an 18-point lead, 45-27, into the halftime break.

Canada shot a blistering 66 percent in the first half as they built their lead. They maintained their lead after the break, pushing on both ends, in spite of their advantage. A deep three from Swords, followed by a layup and a three from Fields kept the pace. Another three, this one from Keishana Washington, helped the Canadians head into the final quarter with a 68-48 advantage.

The fourth quarter was more of the same as the Canadians continued to push until the final buzzer. A three-pointer from Avery Howell at the buzzer meant that every player on the roster got into the scoring column in the victory.

“I think we played really well,” Fields said. “I think there were times where we weren’t doing what we were supposed to be doing on defence, we lacked a little bit there, but overall, we did well on offence and defence throughout the whole game.”

While Canada has had a full gym for training camp, they are without Laeticia Amihere, Bridget Carleton, Aaliyah Edwards and Kia Nurse as the four are still with their respective WNBA teams in advance of the league’s three-week break that will take place during the Olympics.

Achonwa’s 16 points came on 7-for-8 shooting as she played in her first game since the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament this past February.

“It was amazing for me to get to play against someone else and not beat up on our own teammates,” Achonwa said. “[It was also a] good opportunity for everyone to show the work that we’ve put in and that confidence that Víctor has in all of us, because he sees us every day grinding it out in practice.”

Getting to sing the national anthem in front of a home crowd in Canada was a highlight for Achonwa, who will become a four-time Olympian this summer.

“I teared up here,” she said. “Every time I hear the anthem I’m reminded that I’m representing so much more than myself. It just hits home. We’re starting off the summer with these games and this momentum taking us into Paris and knowing on the biggest global stage that we get to represent Canada is something that I will never take lightly.

“The sparkle and shine never goes away,” Achonwa said. “It doesn’t matter if it's my first or my 100th and whatever game, putting on the Canada jersey, the shine never goes away.”