University of Louisville women’s basketball star Merissah Russell has received a coveted invitation to Canada’s Senior Women’s National Team Training Camp, as announced by Canada Basketball this week. This exciting opportunity will take place from May 22 to 29 in Edmonton, marking the initial phase of preparation for the highly anticipated FIBA Women’s AmeriCup 2023. Before the tournament, the team will engage in a thrilling exhibition game against Japan on June 2 in Victoria, B.C.
Russell’s impressive basketball journey includes numerous appearances on various levels of the national team throughout her career. Last summer, she showcased her skills as part of the U-23 team during the exhilarating GLOBL JAM tournament, in which the Cardinals will also participate this summer. Additionally, Russell competed in the 2022 World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Osaka, Japan, and had the opportunity to represent Canada in the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the summer of 2021. Although she served as an alternate for Canada’s women’s basketball team at the Tokyo Olympic Games, she did not make the trip.
The upcoming FIBA Women’s AmeriCup 2023 promises to be a thrilling event, featuring the top ten teams in the Americas. Canada has been drawn into Group B for the competition, where they will go head-to-head against the host nation Mexico (July 2), Puerto Rico (July 3), Colombia (July 4), and the Dominican Republic (July 5) during the Group Phase.
Canada’s national team is riding high on their remarkable fourth-place finish at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022, their best result since claiming third place in 1986. With the team’s recent success, expectations are high as they set their sights on the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup 2023 and aim for an even more extraordinary performance.
