Achonwa, Carleton to Attend 2022 Canadian National Team Training Camp

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – Canada Basketball today announced that Minnesota Lynx forwards Natalie Achonwa and Bridget Carleton are among 15 players expected to attend the 2022 Canada Basketball Women’s National Team training camp from August 24 – September 8 in the City of Edmonton. On Feb. 12, Achonwa (21 points) and Carleton (28 points) combined for 49 points in a dominating performance against Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Osaka, Japan, to clinch a spot in the FIBA World Cup.  

Achonwa, 6-3, has been a part of Team Canada since 2009 when she became the youngest player selected to the Canadian Senior National Team at age 16, which finished fourth. Prior to that, she helped Canada to a silver medal in her international debut at the 2008 FIBA U-18 Americas Championship, the youngest player at just 15 years old. Achonwa has also represented Team Canada at three Olympic Games (Tokyo 2020, Rio 2016 and London 2012) and one Pan America Games (Toronto 2015).  

Carleton, 6-1, helped Team Canada to a silver medal in her first appearance with the team during the 2013 U16 FIBA Americas where she served as a team captain and led the team in minutes played per game (25.6). In 2014, Carleton was named a captain again for the U17 FIBA World Championship team, leading Canada in both scoring (14.4) and minutes played (33.0) through the quarterfinals. The Ontario native represented Team Canada in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.  

The other players expected to attend camp this fall include Kayla Alexander, Laeticia Amihere, Shay Colley, Quinn Dornstauder, Aaliyah Edwards, Nirra Fields, Mael Gilles, Taya Hanson, Sami Hill, Aislinn Konig, Phillipina Kyei, Kia Nurse and Cassandre Proser. The coaching staff includes head coach Victor Lapeña with assistant coaches Noelle Quinn (Seattle Storm head coach), Steve Baur and Carley Clarke.  

The 2022 FIBA World Cup, featuring 12 of the best national teams in the world, is scheduled for Sept. 22-Oct. 1 in Sydney. Canada’s Senior Women’s National Team remains ranked fourth in the FIBA World Ranking Women, presented by Nike, after the rankings were updated following the conclusion of the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournaments. As part of Group B, Canada will start play Sept. 21 vs. Serbia.