So Close, and Now the Hard Way
Canada’s women’s basketball team needed one win to punch their automatic ticket to the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin. They had Aaliyah Edwards on the floor. They had a halftime tie. They had everything they needed.
And then Japan took it away, 66-62.
The loss, which came Sunday in Istanbul at the FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament, means Canada will now have to fight for qualification through other means. The direct path, win the game, book Berlin, is gone.
Edwards Was Everything
It wasn’t for lack of effort from Canada’s star. Aaliyah Edwards, the Kingston, Ontario native who plays professionally in the WNBA, was the best player on the floor. She finished with 22 points and 15 rebounds, shooting an efficient 8-of-11 from the field.
Shay Colley and Kayla Alexander each added 12 points, but it wasn’t enough. Japan’s Mai Yamamoto led the opposition with 16 points, and the Japanese team edged ahead in the third quarter and held on.
A Game That Could Have Gone Either Way
Canada actually led after the first quarter, 21-18. The teams went into halftime dead even at 39-39. Japan pulled ahead 54-50 heading into the fourth, and both teams scored 12 points in the final frame, not enough for Canada to close the deficit.
A single basket. That’s the margin.
What Comes Next
Canada entered Sunday’s game with a 2-1 record in the tournament. The loss drops them to 2-2. Their next challenge is Australia, the tournament’s undefeated side at 3-0, not exactly a forgiving draw.
The World Cup runs September 4-13 in Berlin, Germany. Canada remains one of the world’s top women’s basketball nations and has realistic paths to qualifying, but they’ll have to do it the hard way now.
For a team with the talent Canada has, missing automatic qualification stings. But with Edwards playing at this level, they’re not done yet.
Source: CBC Sports
