By: Holly MacKenzie

OSTEND, BELGIUM (February 8, 2020) – When the Senior Women’s National Team takes on Sweden tonight at the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Ostend, Belgium, whatever the game brings, veteran shooting guard Kim Gaucher will be ready for it.

“There’s nothing that can rattle her,” Team Canada head coach Lisa Thomaidis said. “There’s nothing that she hasn’t seen.”

A member of the national team since 2001, at 35-years-old, Gaucher is the veteran on the team. With the program for their last two appearances in the Olympics, getting to help the team advance to a third consecutive Olympic Games would be a much-deserved honour for the longest-tenured member on the roster.

“She’s been in the WNBA, she’s played in the NCAA, she’s been to the Olympics, she’s been to multiple World Championships,” Thomaidis said. “The experience and knowledge she brings can’t even begin to be compared to anyone else.”

When talking to Thomaidis as well as any of the players on the roster, time and again, Gaucher’s name will come up. From her presence on the bench to her history with the program and all she’s had a hand in helping to build, her influence and impact is readily apparent.

Canada enters Saturday’s game ranked a program-best 4th worldwide in the FIBA Rankings Presented by Nike and one win away from qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. Gaucher has been there for it all.

“She was with the team when we were still emerging and trying to climb the ranks and earn respect internationally as a team to be reckoned with,” Thomaidis said. “Because she has that experience to draw upon, I think she is such a calming influence. She’s earned such respect from her teammates due to her ongoing commitment.”

In addition to her time with the national team, Gaucher plays professionally in Mondeville, France for USO Mondeville. Drafted by the WNBA’s Sacramento Monarchs with the 13th overall pick in 2006, Gaucher is in year 16 of professional basketball, something that doesn’t happen without immense dedication to one’s craft.

“Her work ethic is just second to none,” Thomaidis said. “At the age she’s at, to be playing at the level she’s able to play, it says a lot about her as a person and as an athlete. I think everyone recognizes that. I’ve loved having her around.”

That work ethic and professionalism is something that has rubbed off on Gaucher’s younger national team teammates as well.

“She’s shown a lot of us how to be pros,” teammate Kayla Alexander said. “With respect to taking care of your body if you want to have longevity in this game, she’s an expert with that and she does it so gracefully. She brings so much knowledge and experience to the team that she just pours into us and teaches us. She’s just an incredible human being.”

Thomaidis says that with her experience and expertise as a leader, having Gaucher on the team is like having a player-coach on the floor. With a basketball IQ that is “off the charts” and the most experience out of everyone on the team, Gaucher has earned the right to hold her teammates accountable.

“She’s an excellent leader,” Thomaidis said. “She just knows how to bring the best out of her teammates. She can hold them accountable, yet they all know it’s not personal. They know she’s always about what’s best for the team. She’s demanding, but also calming and comforting. She plays a huge role for us.”

Alexander echoed Thomaidis’ thoughts.

“The first word that comes to mind when I think about Kim is real,” Alexander said. “Her knowledge of the game is undeniable, along with her talent. She’s always collected on the court. If you need a three or a score, you just know. She’s steady. That’s another word I’d use. She’s reliable and steady.”

While her teammates still marvel at Gaucher’s patience on the floor, Thomaidis is just glad her team captain is still suiting up for Canada.

“[She’s calm because] she’s been there,” Thomaidis said. “She’s played against the best in the world on multiple occasions. It’s great that she’s still in the fold.”

After thinking about Gaucher for a few more seconds, Alexander had another addition to her description of her teammate’s game.

“Kim is just money.”

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