EDMONTON (July 6, 2024) - Canada’s 3x3 Women’s National Team went undefeated in five games on home soil to claim the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series Edmonton stop on Saturday.

After a perfect 3-0 Friday, Canada defeated the Barcelona Panthers 21-10 in the semifinals and then continued their dominance with a 21-11 victory in the finals against Dallas 3XBA.

“We definitely have made it a point to be dominant here in our hometown,” said Katherine Plouffe, who is a native of Edmonton. “To have our family out, and the basketball community in Edmonton, as well as Alberta and Saskatchewan — that’s huge and we’re so grateful that they host a tournament here.”

Kacie Bosch, Paige Crozon, Katherine Plouffe and Michelle Plouffe represented Canada in Edmonton as Team Canada dominated across the board, finishing first in poins scored (21), best shooting value (14), most highlights (11) and fewest points allowed (9).

Katherine Plouffe was awarded MVP of the stop as she finished with the top player value (48.2), led in assists (15), and finished third in highlights (17) and rebounds (25). Michelle Plouffe finished second in scoring (35 points), and second in key assists (13) while Crozon led everyone in blocked shots with four.

Michelle Plouffe was lights out in the final, outscoring Dallas 14-11 by herself. She shot 7-for-7 from inside the arc and connected on a trio of two-pointers as she led Canada to victory. Katherine Plouffe finished with four points, six rebounds and five highlights in the win as Canada’s swarming defence helped force Dallas into 10 turnovers.

Camille Zimmerman scored the first point of the contest to give Dallas their only lead in the game as a two-pointer from Michelle Plouffe gave Canada the 2-1 lead. The Canadians pushed the pace on offence, using a two-pointer from Katherine Plouffe, followed by a two-pointer and then a drive and score both from Michelle Plouffe to go ahead 11-4 with 6:37 remaining. Dallas scored on back-to-back possessions to get within four, but wouldn’t get any closer the rest of the way through as Canada responded to every Dallas attempt to cut into the lead.

A basket from Michelle Plouffe inside made it 14-7 Canada. After a steal and driving layup also from Michelle Plouffe, Canada led by eight. After a steal, Michelle Plouffe drilled her third two-pointer of the game to get Canada to 19 points. After Katherine Plouffe found her sister inside, Canada had 20 points and then Katherine Plouffe assisted Crozon at the basket for the lay-up to claim the series stop victory.

Canada came out strong to start their semifinal against Barcelona and they stayed that way, shooting 9-of-13 from inside the arc and 5-of-7 from deep as Crozon scored a game-high nine points and Michelle Plouffe and Katherine Plouffe added six points apiece.

The Canadians jumped out to a quick lead as Katherine Plouffe scored the first point of the game and Team Canada was all over Barcelona defensively. Crozon and Katherine Plouffe connected on back-to-back two-pointers that gave Canada a 7-0 lead before Barcelona scored its first point of the game with 8:05 remaining.

A second two for Katherine Plouffe made it 10-2 for Canada and then Crozon drove to the rim and scored. A two-pointer for Barcelona’s Sarah Sagerer trimmed Canada’s lead to seven points, but Michelle Plouffe found Katherine Plouffe under the basket to push the lead back to eight, 13-5, with 5:47 remaining.

Canada continued to dominate with a layup from Crozon and then a two-pointer from Michelle Plouffe to push Canada ahead by double digits. A two from Crozon made it 18-8 Canada with 4:55 remaining. After a miss from Michelle Plouffe from two, Crozon tracked down the offensive rebound and got the putback to go. A drive, also from Crozon, brought Canada to 20 points.

Michelle Plouffe was fouled and made her free throw with 3:24 remaining on the clock to give Canada the 21-10 victory to advance to the final.

Up next for Canada is the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, as Bosch, Crozon and the Plouffe sisters are set to become the first Canadian 3x3 basketball team to compete at the Olympics after qualifying in May. Action at the Olympics get underway on July 30. Canada will play all seven of the fellow countries competing in women's 3x3 at the Games, before the top-two seeds receive byes to semifinal play, while the No. 3 through No. 6 seeds will advance to quarter-final action.

“We’re very excited,” said Katherine Plouffe. “We’re definitely prepared, but it’s going to be a beast of a tournament.