On Wednesday in Ottawa, the Canadian women’s wheelchair basketball team kicked off their world championship journey with a commanding win over Spain.
With Arinn Young leading the way with 18 points and Kady Dandeneau contributing a double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds, Canada secured a 76-51 triumph at TD Place.
After trailing 21-15 at the end of the first quarter, Canada quickly regrouped, seizing control and effectively putting the game out of reach as they headed into the final quarter.
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Young reflected on the team’s initial nerves in front of their home audience, stating, “We were just really nervous in front of the home crowd. We were quick to recognize what was going on, acknowledged those feelings, and it helped us regain our composure.”
Similarly, the Canadian men’s team played later in the day, defeating Morocco 74-51 in their first match. Colin Higgins nearly achieved a triple-double with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists, as Canada dominated with 40 points in the paint.
Spain came into the tournament as three-time defending bronze medalists from the European championships and finished eighth at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, while Canada secured fourth place.
Watch the host Canadians take on Spain at the Ottawa 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships.
In other Group A matches, China triumphed over Australia with a score of 48-37, and Great Britain delivered a strong performance against Brazil, winning 78-41.
This year’s competitions for both men and women are taking place in Ottawa.
Next up for the Canadian women is a matchup against Australia on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. ET at Carleton University.
Watch the host Canadians take on Morocco at the Ottawa 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships.