LILLE, France (August 4, 2024) -- The Canadian Senior Women’s National Team fell to Nigeria, 79-70 on Sunday at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. 

The loss dropped the team to 0-3 in the tournament and eliminated Canada from advancing to the quarterfinal.

Shay Colley’s 17 points led Canada in the loss, while Bridget Carleton added 13 points, and Kayla Alexander scored 12 points. Laeticia Amihere grabbed 11 rebounds in 13 minutes off the bench

Ezinne Kalu led Nigeria with 21 points, Elizabeth Balogun scored 14 points, and Promise Amukamara added 12 points in the victory.

“Congratulations to team Nigeria, they [played] very well during all three days with a lot of energy,” Team Canada head coach Víctor Lapeña said. “We were not able to recognize this moment, to keep our mind calm and find solutions. We found some solutions later and we beat them in two periods and tied in the first period.”

After a rough start, Canada fought back to take a nine-point advantage midway through the second quarter but was undone by a scoring drought to start the second half, which allowed Nigeria to take control and break the game open.

“It's hard,” Carleton said. “I mean, you look forward to this for four years, three years, I guess [since Tokyo]. It's emotional. It's the peak of athletics, the peak of representing your country at the highest level and you want to do the best you can. Disappointed in how it ended.”

Canada struggled with Nigeria’s defensive pressure to start the game, falling behind 12-2 on a layup from Kalu with 5:43 remaining in the quarter. Nigeria’s defence helped to force Canada into five turnovers in the first four minutes of the game. A drive to the basket from Syla Swords gave Canada their first field goal of the game with 5:26 remaining in the quarter, and then a three from Carleton trimmed the deficit to five. Matching Nigeria’s defensive intensity, the Canadians forced a shot clock violation and then Carleton hit her second three of the game. Amihere’s energy on both ends of the floor was felt as she blocked a shot and then followed with a layup to give Canada its first lead of the game with 1:47 remaining in the quarter. The two teams were tied at 18 points apiece after one.

Canada found its stride in the second, outscoring Nigeria 23-19 in the quarter. With Nigeria leading by two, a layup from Alexander kicked off an 11-0 run by Canada as Colley hit a pair of back-to-back threes and Alexander completed a three-point play to put Canada ahead by nine, 37-28, with 2:55 remaining in the half. Kalu closed the quarter strong for Nigeria, trimming Canada’s lead to four, 41-37 at the break.

Things fell apart for Canada in the third quarter as Nigeria opened the second half on a 13-1 run to move back in front 48-41. Canada’s first point in the second half came on a free throw from Amihere with 4:03 remaining in the third as Nigeria continued to pull away. A three from Nicole Enabosi put Nigeria ahead 60-46 heading into the fourth.

Despite the realization that their Olympic hopes were coming to an end, Canada continued to battle until the final buzzer, winning the final quarter 24-19. Lapeña went with the team’s younger players to close the game, but put veteran and team co-captain Natalie Achonwa in for the final minute as she closed out her fourth Olympic Games as a member of the Senior Women’s National Team.

“She is a legend in the program,” Lapeña said of Achonwa “She played the Olympics for the first time in 2012, and from [my] first day with [the team] she was always very close with me. From my first time in Osaka she was very close to me…always trying to do her best in every moment… The only thing I can say is thank you because to try in this way, like she did, is the most important to inspire the rest of the kids who are coming up. And [we] have very, very good kids coming up.”

Though the loss was still fresh, Achonwa reflected on her 16 years with the Senior Women’s program. 

“It's been a hell of a journey,” Achonwa said. “It's been a hell of a journey. Wouldn't trade it for the world. I've said since I was 16 years old that these are some of the best women, best people I have ever had the pleasure of being around, being a part of. And it's not the way that I would like to go out on the court, but I know that I've said this over and over. It's never about the outcome, it's about the journey. These are the people that you invite to your weddings, that you invite [to] your baby showers that my son will know for the rest of his life. It's bigger than basketball and when I take this jersey off, I hope that I left it better than I found it and that everyone back home knows that every time I put it on, I did it with the utmost amount of pride and passion and can't wait to see who's next going to be wearing it after me. And I hope that they can carry it forward and that they can leave it better than I left it.”

Prior to arriving in Paris, Achonwa said this would be her final Olympics. 

She walked off the court against Nigeria holding the Senior Women’s National Team Olympic records for Olympic appearances (4), Olympic games played (18) and all-time assists (43). Her 18 games played are the second most by any Canadian basketball player. Only Romel Raffin (19) has played more Olympic games for Canada Basketball. 

“[It has meant] so much more than myself, so much more than my family,” Achonwa said of playing for Canada. “The name on the back, it's all about that name on the chest and people from all over Canada. I hope that I did it justice. I hope that I made you proud. I did it with everything that I had for 16 years.”

Sunday’s loss marked the first time the team has gone winless in the Group Phase since Atlanta 1996.

“For over a decade, our Senior Women’s National Team has been one of the world's top ranked teams, with Paris 2024 being the program’s fourth consecutive appearance at the Olympic Games,” Michael Bartlett, President & CEO of Canada Basketball said.  “I want to thank all the athletes, coaches, and staff for their commitment to proudly representing Canada with grace and passion every time they step on the court.  I’d also like to recognize the tremendous support Canada Basketball has received from our Board, donors and partners who are equally committed to helping support our winning ambitions.  

“While we are all disappointed in the outcome of this Olympic tournament, the future remains incredibly bright, not only for this program but for basketball in our country,” Bartlett said.  “The work begins today, towards the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 as we look to establish our winning pathway ahead of the LA 2028 Olympic Games.”