Canada Means Business
From the opening tip, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a contest. Canada’s women’s basketball team blew open the game immediately, racing to a 19-1 lead against Argentina and never looking back. The final score, 75-41, doesn’t flatter the margin.
The win at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 qualifying tournament in Istanbul moved Canada to 2-1 in the competition, with momentum building ahead of what everyone knows is the real challenge: automatic qualification.
Edwards Sets the Tone
Aaliyah Edwards was the story. The Kingston, Ontario native and WNBA standout posted a double-double, 11 points and a game-high 15 rebounds, in just over 19 minutes of action. She didn’t need to carry the scoring load because Canada’s depth took care of that.
Shay Colley paced all scorers with 13 points and five assists, shooting 50% from both two- and three-point range. The team shot 43.3% from the field overall while holding Argentina to a paltry 24.6%, and outrebounded them 58-25, including 19 offensive boards that kept the pressure relentless.
An Eye on the Past
Edwards gave a glimpse of the scouting mindset that makes elite athletes different. “The last time we faced Argentina it went to double overtime,” she said. “So we wanted to make sure that didn’t happen again.”
Mission accomplished, and then some.
Coach Nell Fortner credited the team’s defensive approach: “We came out with great intensity and were really focused on defence. Aaliyah did a great job establishing us inside.”
What It All Means
The win was satisfying, but Saturday’s result was the appetizer. Sunday’s game against Japan was the one that mattered most, a win would have punched Canada’s automatic ticket to the World Cup in Berlin (September 4-13, 2026).
For now, Canada has shown they have the talent, depth, and defensive identity to compete at the top level. Edwards at her best is one of the best players in the tournament, full stop.
The road to Berlin runs through the qualifier, and Canada is very much in it.
Source: CBC Sports
