The road to the Olympics runs through moments like this, when Canada’s best basketball players test themselves, inspire the next generation and bring the highest level of the sport closer to home. Canada’s Senior Women’s National Basketball Team is in Victoria for a marquee exhibition matchup against the defending NCAA champion UCLA Bruins at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, giving Vancouver Island fans a rare opportunity to watch some of the country’s top athletes compete on home court. The matchup also marks the first time the UCLA women’s basketball program has played a game in Canada. For Team Canada guard Syla Swords, those moments can leave a lasting impact. “I’m a firm believer in seeing is doing,” Swords said. “Once you see someone do it, that door is open for you.” A key step toward Olympic qualification The game is part of Team Canada’s preparation for the FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament in August as the national program continues its journey toward Olympic qualification. Victoria has become a familiar destination for Canada’s Senior Women’s National Team, with the community continuing to embrace the chance to watch elite basketball on home court. Swords said the current group is focused on building chemistry and finding the identity it wants to bring into international competition. “We have a lot of great vet talent and a lot of great young talent as well,” she said. “Where we’re going to find most success by figuring out how we can gel the best to create the best version of what Canada basketball looks like today.” Facing UCLA, which captured its first NCAA Division I women’s basketball championship last season, gives Canada a chance to test itself against one of the top programs in the sport. “They’re a national championship team, and that in itself is not an easy tournament to win,” Swords said. “From all five positions, we’re going to be challenged.” But Swords said Canada’s focus remains on continuing to develop its own identity. “We need to play our style of play regardless of whether we’re playing UCLA or any of the teams we’re going to see in the pre-Olympic qualifier,” she said. Growing the game on Vancouver Island The matchup comes at a time when women’s basketball continues to attract more attention from fans and athletes. The rise of stars such as Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese has helped bring new audiences to the women’s game, while professional leagues continue to grow their visibility. Locally, that momentum is also being felt. Matt Kuzminski, owner of Island Swish Basketball and director of basketball at Aspen Grove School, said he has seen increased interest in women’s basketball among athletes of all ages. “Even coaching the men’s side, there was a lot more conversation amongst the guys about the WNBA,” Kuzminski said. He says more young athletes are getting involved as opportunities continue to expand. “We’re seeing more and more girls playing, a lot more club teams happening at the girls level,” Kuzminski said. “There’s more and more opportunities now that are popping up for girls teams.” For Kuzminski, bringing high-level games like Team Canada’s matchup against UCLA to Victoria gives young athletes a chance to see what is possible. “Once you see it in person, you can kind of see a pathway for yourself,” he said. “Bringing these games to our home soil gives us access to that.” He said those experiences can stay with athletes long after the final buzzer. “You remember some of the players you got to see,” Kuzminski said. “You take things from the players, and some of these young people are going to go to their backyards or gyms and try to work on those exact same moves.” The meaning behind the Maple Leaf For Swords, representing Canada carries a personal connection. Growing up in a basketball family, she said the pride of playing for Canada was something she learned at an early age from her father, Shawn Swords, who represented Canada at the 2000 Olympics. “I was just really instilled the pride of wearing the Maple Leaf,” Swords said. She says playing for Canada is something she and her sister have always valued. “Whether it’s cadet, junior or senior team, we just love to play for Canada as much as we can,” Now, Swords hopes young athletes watching from the stands understand that opportunities in basketball continue to grow. “Canada is up and coming, but Canada is here,” Swords added. She says reaching the highest level requires more than just talent. “You have to be a competitor,” Swords said. “You have to be comfortable with losing and comfortable with failing.” She believes growth comes from continuing to challenge yourself. “Those are really where the difference is made, people who can make it through and continue to come back into those uncomfortable situations to be able to see how they can grow.” As Team Canada prepares for its next international challenge, the matchup against UCLA represents more than a test on the court. It is a chance for young athletes in Victoria to see the highest level of the sport up close and imagine a future where they could one day wear the maple leaf themselves. Inside Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, the next generation of Canadian basketball players may be watching the very moment that inspires their own journey.
