Wheelchair Basketball Canada has unveiled the rosters for the upcoming world championships in Ottawa, featuring both women’s and men’s teams. The women’s squad includes key players such as Kady Dandeneau, Melanie Hawtin, Puisand Lai, Tara Llanes, Cindy Ouellet, Tamara Steeves, Elodie Tessier, and Arinn Young, who all participated in the fourth-place Paralympic team in 2024. Additionally, Elise Froese, Rosie Long, Mercy Nyakundi, and Bethany Johnson have secured spots on the team.
In the past, Canada achieved a fifth-place finish at the 2022 championships, with their last podium appearance in 2014 when the women clinched gold in Toronto. Turning to the men’s team, seven players have returned from both the Paralympic Games and the 2022 worlds, including Reed De’Aeth, Nik Goncin, Colin Higgins, Lee Melymick, Tyler Miller, Blaise Mutware, and Garrett Ostepchuk. Joining them are newcomers Josh Brown, Ibrahim Odza, Kyrell Sopotyk, Lionel Tamoki, and Brandon Louie.
The Canadian men, who placed sixth in the 2022 worlds, last secured gold in 2006. The world championships, scheduled from Sept. 9-19, will determine the allocation of spots for each zone in the 2028 Paralympic Games.