The Canadian women's team reaches the semi-finals for the first time since 2004

This is a press release from SPORTCOM: Wheelchair Basketball – Paralympic Games – Canadian Women’s Team Reaches Final Four for First Time Since 2004 The Olympic and Paralympic Games represent the pinnacle of sporting performance in the world. By bringing the world’s population together around physical activity, the Games allow millions of young people to dream, millions of teenagers to surpass themselves and millions of adults to motivate themselves. BougeBouge, in partnership with SportCom, would like to share some of the highlights of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in a variety of sports and athletes.

Paris, September 4, 2024 (Sportcom) – Twenty years later, the Canadian women’s wheelchair basketball team is back in the final four of the Paralympic Games. It secured its place in the semi-finals with a 71-53 victory over the Germans on Wednesday.

Speaking in the mixed zone after the game, Quebec’s Rosalie Lalonde was quick to point out that the curse was finally a thing of the past. In addition to the Beijing, Rio and Tokyo Paralympic Games, the Canadian team also finished fifth at the last two World Championships. In London in 2012, they finished sixth.

We’ve been trying to get through to the quarter-finals for so long,” said the woman who has been a member of the Canadian team since 2015. This is a great moment for us! We absolutely wanted this win, it feels really good.”

The Canadians’ celebrations at the end of the match spoke volumes and corroborated the words of the Saint-Clet player. It was as if a huge weight had been lifted.

“It was a great team effort tonight. We’re a united team and we showed that today,” said Élodie Tessier.

Kady Dandeneau got off to a good start at Bercy Arena. The British Columbian scored 13 of Canada’s 17 points in the first quarter to give them a 17-12 lead. The ball moved around more in the second quarter. Rosalie Lalonde and Élodie Tessier both made great plays to give Canada a 34-22 lead.

Their contribution continued in the second half, which was dominated by the Canadians.

Betting on the most advantageous oppositions against the opposing defence, they took the lead by 21 points with 7 minutes left in the game. Their opponents closed the gap after that, but without really threatening the Unified team’s lead, which lasted until the end.

Élodie Tessier finished with 10 points, 2 rebounds and an assist. Her intensity made things difficult for the Germans, especially in transition, both offensively and defensively. An aspect of the game she is particularly fond of.

“I find it satisfying to block taller players and play under the basket. I like to make my team-mates shine, it’s one of my strengths, but tonight they made me shine,” admitted the St-Germain-de-Grantham athlete.

Rosalie Lalonde scored 6 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, as well as stealing the ball. Cindy Ouellet scored 2 points in the win. Sofia Fassi Fehri is also representing Canada in Paris, at her first Paralympic Games, but did not play in this game.

Les joueuses allemandes s’étaient classées quatrièmes aux Jeux de Tokyo ainsi qu’aux derniers Championnats du monde.

“We know them very well because we played against them in friendlies this summer. We were the favourites and we arrived with confidence, but they also played a good game,” said Rosalie Lalonde. We didn’t want a repeat of fifth place. The curse is over. Now we want more and we want to go for a podium finish.

To do that, the Canadians will have to face the Dutch on Friday, the reigning world and Paralympic champions.

The Canadian men’s team will also be playing in the semi-finals of the Paris Paralympic Games. This is a first for the Canadian team since 2012. They will face the United States on Thursday.