Canada secures 2028 Pre-Olympic basketball berth by defeating Mexico

The Canadian women's basketball team has clinched its ticket to the Los Angeles 2028 Pre-Olympic tournament, decisively defeating Mexico 83-53 in the final of the Pre-qualifier held in Guadalajara.

Canada's dominance was evident throughout the game, with Kayla Alexander leading the scoring with 14 points. Agot Makeer contributed 13 points, while Yvonne Ejim posted a strong double-double, tallying 10 points and 16 rebounds. For Mexico, Anisa Jeffries was the leading scorer with 13 points.

Mexico showed initial fight, keeping pace in the early minutes of the first quarter. However, Canada's effective transitions and strong shooting, particularly from Syla Swords (eight points) and Sami Hill (six points), who were both perfect from three-point range, allowed them to build a significant 26-11 lead by the end of the period.

Canada extended their advantage in the second quarter, leading 47-26 at halftime. Despite Mexico's efforts to improve their play, their shooting struggles prevented them from closing the gap. The trend continued in the third quarter, where Mexico scored only nine points, allowing Canada to maintain a commanding 66-35 lead.

In the final quarter, Mexico attempted a comeback but struggled to find the basket, sealing Canada's 83-53 victory and their qualification for the 2028 Pre-Olympic Games.