Canada W vs Senegal W

Senegal trimmed the deficit to single digits early in the third quarter, but that was as close as they got. Canada's 10-0 scoring run — the largest of the game — swung momentum back decisively, and the Canadians controlled the game for 36 minutes and 32 seconds of the 40-minute contest, leaving Senegal with just 1:16 of game time in the lead.

Kayla Alexander — A team-high 16 points and 7 rebounds anchored Canada's interior game. The veteran forward shot efficiently from inside and controlled the defensive glass.

Syla Swords — 13 points, built largely on three first-quarter three-pointers that set the tone. Her early spacing opened up Canada's offence before Senegal could adjust.

Delaney Gibb — Also contributed 13 points, providing secondary scoring punch off the bench.

Tara Wallack — Hauled in 4 offensive rebounds, a key factor in Canada's 15-8 edge on the offensive glass that generated extra possessions.

Cierra Dillard (SEN) — Game-high 22 points, though her scoring alone was not enough to overcome Canada's balanced attack.

Player of the match: Kayla Alexander.

Canada shot 38% from the field and just 29% from three-point range, but won the game on the interior: a 48.5% conversion rate on two-point attempts (versus Senegal's 29.7%) and a 26-14 advantage in points in the paint told the story. Senegal actually shot better from beyond the arc (46.7% to 29%) and won the bench-scoring battle 31-29, but could not match Canada's physical edge around the rim.

At the free-throw line, Canada was perfect (100%) while Senegal managed just 63.6%, a 7-point swing in a game decided by 15. The rebound battle was also lopsided: Canada's 15 offensive boards generated far more second-chance opportunities than Senegal's 8.

The win puts Canada 1-0 in Group B of the FIBA Women's Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament 2026 in Guadalajara. With two group-stage games remaining, Canada faces the Philippines on Wednesday (August 19, 7:30 p.m. ET). A strong result there would put Canada in prime position to advance to the next stage of qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Senegal drops to 0-1 and will need to regroup quickly. Their path to qualification now requires winning out in the group stage and likely relying on other results.

Canada executed exactly what was needed in a tournament opener: an early lead, controlled tempo, and interior dominance. Nell Fortner's side never let Senegal believe. The three-point shooting wasn't prolific and the defence allowed some open looks from deep, but the rebounding edge and paint scoring were more than enough validation of the game plan.