Canadian women rule Spain to open IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships

OTTAWA – Arinn Young scored a game high 18 points and Kady Dandeneau added 17 as Canada dominated the last three quarters to defeat Spain 75-51 Wednesday to open the IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships at TD Place.

After a worrisome first quarter in which Spain built a 21-15 lead, Canada straightened out its game smothering its opponent until the final buzzer.  

‘’We were just really nervous in front of the home crowd,’’ said Young, a three-time Paralympian about the first quarter.  ‘’But we were quick to recognize what was going on, acknowledged those feelings and it brought us back down to being calm.

‘’I’m just really happy we got this one out of the way.’’

The Canadians ended the second quarter with a 16-2 run and reeled off 14 unanswered points late in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.

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‘’We started playing together, had fun and when that happens, we’re unstoppable,’’ said Young. ‘’Our veterans were super hyped for our younger athletes, and our younger athletes were excited to play at a worlds.’’

One of those younger athletes was Elise Froese of Victoria who made her world championship debut with an impressive 10-point performance.

‘’This was amazing and the game was super fun,’’ said Froese, 20, one of four newcomers to the 12-woman squad. ‘’It’s been years building up to this moment and it’s so exciting to be here in the moment and have the first game under our belt.’’

Spain entered the tournament as the three-time defending European championships bronze medallists and were eighth at the Paralympics in 2024. Canada was fourth at Paris 2024.

‘’I kind of expected a nervous start,’’ said Canada’s head coach Joey Johnson, at the helm since this past May. ‘’We transitioned really well out of that first quarter. But it’s the kind of game we wanted. Everyone got some minutes in and every line-up we put out there got stronger and stronger.’’

Cindy Ouellet added 11 points and Élodie Tessier also had 10 for Canada.

Canada and Spain are both in Group A in the 12- country women’s tournament. Inother group A games Thursday, China defeated Australia 48-37 and Great Britain trounced Brazil 78-41.

Canada is back in action Thursday against Australia. Game time is 2:30 p.m. (ET) at Carleton University.

The Canadian men get underway tonight against Morocco at 7:30 p.m. at TD Place.