Nirra Fields isn't just the shortest player on Team Canada. Quite often, she's the shortest player on the court, period.

So how is it that the five-foot-seven guard from Lachine, Que., is frequently scoring in the paint, or snatching rebounds away from players several inches taller than her?

It might have something to do with growing up with six brothers - five who were older, all who would play hoops, and none who would take it easy on her.

"I always felt like I could compete against anyone that was taller than me," Nirra says. "I get that competitive spirit and that fearless attacking mindset from my brothers. I always feel if I can go inside and get in there with the bigs I can really help this team."

Going back as far as 2008 when she won MVP at the U15 National Championships, averaging 19.2 points and an astronomical 15.8 rebounds for Team Quebec, Nirra's played above her height. She showed her inside scoring ability against China at the recent Edmonton Grads International Classic, where she frequently penetrated, got in the paint, and hit shots over post defenders.

"Being here consistently, understanding the system and talking with coach, going over the film, has really made me comfortable," says Nirra, who led Canada in scoring at the EGIC, averaging 12.3 points per game for the series. "It has made me realize that my strength on this team to create shots for myself and others."

Nirra made her Canada Basketball debut in 2009 as a member of the Cadet Womenâ??s National Team, and has been a regular on the SWNT since 2014. Rio will be the 22-year-oldâ??s first Summer Games.

"Every four years you get this opportunity," says Nirra, who finished her NCAA career at UCLA this year. "It's not just five days leading up the Olympics that you start to work hard, it's the process of working hard every day for four year straight, day in and day out. To me, that's what an Olympian is. They're consistent in their work, they don't allow adversity to deter them, they understand the process that if every day we grow and get better leading up the Olympics, all that preparation will take care of itself once we get there."

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