Kady Dandeneau and her fellow Canadian women’s wheelchair basketball players are on the brink of securing a spot in the world championship final for the first time since 2014. In a dominant performance against Japan during the quarterfinals on Wednesday at TD Place in Ottawa, Dandeneau, a 36-year-old athlete from Pender Island, B.C., showcased her skills by amassing 49 points, along with 12 rebounds and eight assists, leading Canada to an 88-68 victory.
Having previously claimed the gold medal in 2014 in Toronto, Canada is set to face the Netherlands in the semifinals on Thursday at 7:15 p.m. ET after the Dutch triumphed over Spain with a 73-38 win in the quarterfinals. The game will be live-streamed on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.
The Canadian team had reached the quarterfinals in the previous world championships in Dubai in 2023, finishing in fifth place. Rosie Long from Oakville, Ont., expressed the team’s excitement about advancing to the semifinals, stating, “We’re super happy to be in the semis.”
Dandeneau, who received extra rest compared to her teammates following an ejection in the previous game against Great Britain, delivered a stellar performance, while Arinn Young, the team’s other key player, also shone with 30 points and 11 assists. Despite Japan narrowing the gap to eight points during the game, Canada responded with an 8-1 run to secure a comfortable victory.
The Canadian team, with a flawless record of 6-0, faced tough competition from Japan (2-4) during the second and third quarters but managed to pull away towards the end of the game. With a strong start led by Dandeneau and Young, Canada shot 67% from the field, outperforming the Japanese team’s 45% shooting accuracy. Additionally, Canada dominated the paint with a 46-18 point advantage and capitalized on 16 points from Japan’s turnovers.
Chihiro Kitada, Japan’s 37-year-old star forward, led her team with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists in the game. Despite their efforts, Japan couldn’t recover from falling behind early in the match, with Canada taking a commanding lead after the first quarter.
The Japanese team, aiming to surpass their previous best finishes in the world championships, faced a formidable Canadian side that displayed exceptional teamwork and skill on the court.
