Canada Day 2012 will always be a special date for us at Canada Basketball:  that’s the day our Senior Women’s National Team secured a berth at the London Olympic Games. This series of Q&A’s with our national team players helps you get to know the inspiring women who are part of that team that will represent Canada proudly in London.  

Hometown: Orleans, Ontario

High School: St. Peter High School

University: University of Vermont

Pro Team: VICI Aistes Kaunas (Lithuania)

Years with Canada Basketball: 5

Games with Canada Basketball: 68

Canada Basketball - What is your favorite Olympic memory?

Courtnay Pilypaitis - My favorite Olympic memory is just watching the Olympics during the summer with my family, and watching all the Canadians win medals and waving the Canadian flag around with such pride!

CB - What team are you most looking forward to playing against in London?

CP – I’m looking forward to playing Great Britain! To play the host country, in their home at the Olympics is going to be a great atmosphere.

CB - What do you think the biggest challenge will be for you and the team at these games?

CP - The biggest challenge will be to balance enjoying the experience, and avoiding distractions. I think we will do a great job in that, but it will be our biggest challenge.

CB - Do you have any pregame rituals? What are they?

CP - I listen to music, and chew gum during warm-up. I actually like to listen to a lot of Nickleback before games, along with some Nelly, and Maroon 5.  For my gum choice, I mostly choose mint flavors for before games.  Nothing crazy since you never know what to expect when traveling abroad.    

CB - Who is the teammate that you are most excited to see take the floor for the first Olympic game?  Why?

CP - Kim Smith and Chelsea Aubry. Those two have given so much to this program, and been tremendous role models. After years of work, their dreams have come true, and to see them walk onto the court will be priceless.  

CB - What advice would you give to young athletes who are pursuing an Olympic dream?

CP - Work hard, and never stop working! Everyone on the team has had struggles, but what made them better was working through them and becoming a better person

and athlete because of it.

CB - Tell us something special or unique about yourself that we might not know.

CP - I collect hotel keys from wherever I visit.  I haven't counted in a while as to how many keys I have, but it must be over 500 by now. And the most interesting ones are the ones that have pictures of the places on it, like Las Vegas or Niagara Falls.

To read other, "Getting to Know Our Olympians," click the athletes names below:

Teresa Gabriele
Natalie Achonwa
Alisha Tatham
Michelle Plouffe
Chelsea Aubry
Tamara Tatham
Kim Smith
Shona Thorburn
Lizanne Murphy
Miranda Ayim
Krista Phillips  

Below is the Canadian preliminary schedule, with the broadcast information.

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