Canada Hoops

Shelley Swords pulls up on Canada Hoops ! Shelley sits down with your boy Matty to share a bit of her Canadian basketball story and to tell us what leading an impactful family for Canada Basketball looks like. Shelley lets us in on what the Swords family is up to as everyone approaches their basketball season. Shelley tells us about the 2024 Paris Olympic experience for the Swords family and how Syla is approaching her freshmen season at the University of Michigan. Shelley shares with us how basketball started for her and how she found herself playing at Laurentian University. Shelley tells us about watching and supporting Shawn and the rest of the 2000 Sydney Olympic team and why that group remains special today. The Swords family made the move from Sudbury to Long Island, NY, for everyone to pursue basketball even further and Shelley tells us how that move and decision unfolded.  
Shelley describes what playing for Canada Basketball means to her family and why it's something they cherish. And you know Shelley gives us a great Favourite 5 of all time for Canada Basketball ! It's usually a family and community affair for athletes to succeed; especially with Canada Basketball. Shelley Swords gives us insight on what that looks like for her family and we are truly grateful Shelley joined us ! Much love to the Swords family !

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The 2024 Paris Olympics journey for the SMNT for Canada Basketball comes to an end as Canada loses to France 82-73 in the quarterfinals. Tough end to the tournament for the SMNT. But you know us here on Canada Hoops: It's Canada Basketball forever. 

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2024 Paris Olympics: SMNT Canada Basketball defeats Australia 93-83. The homie Scott Witter, X.com Canada Basketball Insider, pulls up to discuss the game for Canada as Canada moves to 2-0 in the group with a chance to move to 3-0 on Friday vs Spain.

What a time to be alive ! Canada Basketball forever !

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It's a combo episode with our friend Alex Adams as we give you postgame thoughts from the SMNT Canada Basketball game vs USA Basketball from Las Vegas, Nevada. We re-cap the game and the week it was from Vegas. Canada Basketball forever ! 
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Avery Howell, representing Boise, Idaho pulls up on Canada Hoops! Avery sits down with us to share her basketball story . Avery’s Canadian roots are in Salmo, British Columbia, where her Mom was born and raised. Avery tells us about her training right now as she prepares for a potential summer with Canada Basketball and her up coming season at the University of Southern California. Avery talks about how basketball got started for her and why she really likes to watch Caitlin Clark. Avery talks about her recent participation in the Nike Hoop Summit and the prestigious McDonald’s All American game. Avery tells us about her recruiting process and how she made her decision to play at USC and become a Trojan. 
Avery has not yet represented Canada Basketball but gave us some insight into what playing for the Program will mean to her and her family when the opportunity comes. Avery talks about the relationships she has formed with some other Canadian players already and is excited to play in the red and white with everyone. And we get a unique Top 5 of all time for Canada Basketball from Avery as well! Avery Howell is a player to watch for Canada Basketball in the future; and we appreciate her joining us on Canada Hoops! 

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Miranda Ayim, SWNT Alumni and 3 time Olympian, pulls up on Canada Hoops ! Miranda sits down with your boy Matty to share her basketball story. Miranda tells us about her career following her basketball career and what keeps her busy. Miranda talks about growing up in London, Ontario, playing a variety of sports; and learning basketball from her family. Miranda tells us about being a Saunders Sabre and eventually taking her education and game to Pepperdine University and becoming a Wave. Miranda had an outstanding career at Pepperdine; culminating in her recent induction into the Pepperdine Hall of Fame. Miranda gives her thoughts on the NCAA landscape right now with the NIL and transfer portal factors.
Miranda takes her game pro which included time in Turkey, an opportunity with the Tulsa Shock in the WNBA and then playing several seasons in France; with Miranda telling us what makes the French League a great place to play for professional womens' basketball.
And you know we dive into Canada Basketball with Miranda! Miranda tells us what playing for Canada meant to her; being a 3 time Olympian and having the honour of being named the Flag Bearer for Canada at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Miranda talks about the growth of the SWNT for Canada Basketball; how excited she is to see the SWNT continue to rise and cherished memories with the long and legendary list of teammates she had. Miranda then gives us a great Top 5 of all time for Canada Basketball. Much love to Miranda Ayim for joining us on Canada Hoops !

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Jackson Rowe, the hustler, pulls up on Canada Hoops ! Jackson sits down with your boy Matty to share his basketball story thus far. Jackson is back home in Toronto after a strong, successful season with the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA G League. Jackson tells us his plans for the offseason as he gets ready to train for his upcoming season as he returns to Santa Cruz to crack open his spot in the NBA. JR takes us back to when he was growing up in Toronto as he learned the game from his Mother, the legend Phil Dixon and others. Jackson talks about his idols in basketball as he was a young man; which included the Toronto native and icon Jamaal Magloire. Jackson takes his game to Wasatch Academy in Mount Pleasant, Utah, to test his skills against the best competition. While at Wasatch Jackson starts to get more recruitment for NCAA Division 1 basketball; eventually committing to Cal State Fullerton. As a Titan Jackson makes an impact and elevated his game to eventually turn pro. JR starts his pro journey seeing stops in France, Sweden and Germany. Jackson played in the CEBL with the Ottawa Blackjacks and JR talks about the importance of the CEBL for Canadian basketball players and community. 
And you know we talk Canada Basketball with Jackson. JR talks about what playing for Canada means to him and his family; some of his closest teammates and friends and who he’d love to suit up with for Canada Basketball. Jackson then drops his legendary Top 5 Canadian players on us. Much love to Jackson Rowe for joining us on Canada Hoops ! 

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Allison McNeill, former Head Coach of the SWNT for Canada Basketball and one of the all time great coaches in Canadian basketball, pulls up on Canada Hoops! Allison sits down with your boy Matty to share her basketball story. Allison lets us know what she has been doing since retirement; although she is still connected to the game and tells us that in some way basketball will always be a part of her life. Allison talks about the state and impact of womens' basketball right now and how she knew this time would come. Allison takes us back to growing up in Princeton and Salmon Arm, BC, working for her family business at a young age while learning and loving basketball. Allison moves from Princeton to Salmon Arm to play the game and meets her lifelong friend; the legendary Bev Smith. Allison talks about her time as a Jewel before she heads to Laurentian University to become a Voyageur. Allison won two National Championships at Laurentian before moving to the University of Oregon to re-unite with Bev Smith. After her time as a Duck Allison starts her pro career before she ends up as the Head Coach at Simon Fraser University. After a successful 13 year tenure at SFU Allison heads back to Oregon again to join Bev as the associate Head Coach for the Ducks.

In 2002 Allison is named the Head Coach of the SWNT for Canada Basketball. Allison would lead the SWNT for 10 years ; taking the Program from 22nd to 8th in the world rankings. Allisons' time as the Head Coach of the SWNT culminated with qualifying for and competing in the 2012 London Olympics. Allison gives us great insight on Canada Basketball during her tenure and shares her thoughts on the Program now and where the SWNT can potentially go on the world stage. And you know Allison drops a historic Top 5 of all time for Canada Basketball on us. It was a privilege to sit down with Allison and hear her stories. Much love to Allison McNeill for joining us on Canada Hoops!

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Oren Weisfeld, your Canada Basketball, NBA , WNBA and NCAA journalist, pulls up on Canada Hoops! Orens sits down with your boy Matty to talk all things Canadian basketball. Oren talks about the 2024 NCAA Tournament and the impact of Zach Edey and Aaliyah Edwards as they lead their respective teams into the Final Four. Oren tells us about his book that is set to release in the Fall of 2025; which is a historical record and timeline of the Senior Mens National Team for Canada Basketball, along with impactful Canadian basketball moments. 
Oren and Matty breakdown the SWNT and SMNT for Canada Basketball as they head to the 2024 Paris Olympics this summer; and talk about some roster makeups for both teams for the Program. 
And Oren drops a great Favourite 5 of all time on us for Canada Basketball. Much love to Oren Weisfeld for joining us on Canada Hoops! Be sure to support Oren and check out his work at sportsnet.ca

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Jade Belmore, the Regina Queen, pulls up on Canada Hoops! Jade sits down with your boy Matty to share her basketball story thus far. Jade tells us about winding down her season at the University of Regina where she was just named the Canada West Player of the Year. Jade talks about her team, her season and how motivated she is to get the Cougars to Nationals to win a Championship. Jade takes us back to her younger days growing up in Regina, Saskatchewan and how basketball started to take shape for her. Jade was motivated to compete and improve as she looked to prove herself as the best player in the province. Jade talks fondly of her time at Martin Leboldus and the relationships she formed as a Golden Sun. Jade tells us how about her recruitment as she looked to play at the next level and why she ultimately chose to stay at home to represent her city and play at the University of Regina. Jade  talks about her career thus far as a Cougar and what motivates her to excel. 
Jade played for Canada Basketball in the summer of 2023 as she represented the Program with the 2023 GLOBL JAM Team. Jade talks about what playing in the red and white has meant to her and why she is driven to play for Canada Basketball in the future. And Jade drops a great Top 5 of all time for Canada Basketball on us ! Much love to Jade Belmore for joining us on Canada Hoops! 

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