Springfield, Mass. (April 23, 2024) - Canada's 3x3 Women's National Team enters the first stop of the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series 2024 as back-to-back defending champions in preparation for their upcoming Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Japan.

Canada is headlined by World No. 1 ranked player Katherine Plouffe, who has been a leader for this 3x3 team for the last four years, winning a silver medal for Canada at the 2022 FIBA 3x3 Women’s World Cup. Even with their winning history, Plouffe and the team are heading into the season with new motivation.

“It will be great to play with some pressure leading into our Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) next week,” she said. “Every game and every opportunity matters in the long-term vision for this summer.”

Canada, the number-one seed, is in Pool A, along with Germany, Puerto Rico, and Springfield. Rounding out the team is Katherine's twin sister Michelle, who currently is the No. 3 ranked player in the world, as well as fellow National Team mainstays Paige Crozon and Kacie Bosch.

The reigning 3x3 Women's Series Final winners won six stops in the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series 2023, including all three stops in home soil in Canada. Pool A action on Tuesday represents their first opportunity to kickstart 2024 on the right note.‍

‍Also representing Canada at the stop is Team Calgary, which is represented by Tara Wallack, Keishana Washington, Saicha Grant-Allen and Jade Belmore. Wallack and Washington each represnted Canada at the FIBA 3x3 U23 Nations League Americas last summer in Chile, while Washington and Grant-Allen played together for Canada at the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Debrecen Stop last August. Grant-Allen was also a part of Canada's bronze medal winning squad at the FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup 2023. Meanwhile Belmore, a current member of the University of Regina Cougars, will be making her 3x3 debut on the world stage.

Team Calgary will share Pool B with United States, Frieburg and France.

“There is a high level of competition here for the Springfield Women’s Series stop, which is great to see,” said Katherine Plouffe. “Two Canadian teams, which is a great opportunity for the Canadian women’s program!”

‍Fans can watch from April 23-24 live on FIBA’s 3x3 YouTube Channel here. All the action will take place at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Sprinfield, Mass.