ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA — Canada’s 3x3 Women’s National Team tipped off group play at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2025 with a pair of wins on Monday, defeating Latvia 17-10 and Austria 20-15 to open their tournament on a strong note.

The Canadians set the tone early against Latvia, holding their opponents to just 10 points in a defensively sharp opener. In their second game of the day, Canada overcame a lengthy rain delay before returning to the court hours later to secure a gritty win over Austria and close the day undefeated.

“I think we showed a lot of unity today,” said Cassandra Brown. “It was a full team effort. Everybody stayed locked in and did their job, and I think that’s what got us two wins.”

Saicha Grant-Allen led the way statistically, finishing the day ranked fourth in tournament scoring with 15 total points, along with11 rebounds to help Canada control the paint on both ends.

Reflecting on the magnitude of the moment, Brown added: “Going into a World Cup competition, there’s definitely nerves — but we try to reframe it as excitement. We’ve worked hard for this moment, so it’s just about being ready and embracing it.”

“It’s the highest honour as a player,” she continued. “Being able to represent your country and wear Canada across your chest — there’s nothing better than that.”

Canada will look to keep its momentum rolling on Wednesday when group stage play continues against France and Hungary — tip-offs scheduled for 5:10 AM ET / 2:10 AM PT, and 7:00 AM ET / 4:00 AM PT, respectively. Fans can watch the action live on CBC Sports.