Canada's 2023 3x3 Women's Series Debut in Orleans - Full Report
With the existing teams adding to their depth and skill sets and more new, independent teams joining the competition, the 2023 3x3 Women's Series looks set to be the most competitive and unpredictable year on the circuit yet.
For Canada, 2023 would also have added meaning to them as they enter the season with the defence of their crown on the line. Though late to start the season, they finally got their 2023 campaign underway in the central French city of Orleans, where eleven other teams would also be contesting the latest stop on the world tour.
Beginning on the first day, where the teams played in four pools of three teams each, the usual suspects for Canada - Paige Crozon, Kacie Bosch and Plouffe twins Michelle and Katherine - played in Pool C against Azerbaijani club Neftchi with the national team of Italy to follow.
In their first game Canada attempted to take control from the start but Brianna Fraser was keeping proceedings close for Neftchi, who were given the lead by Dina Ulyanova three minutes in. Fraser and Arica Carter then set Neftchi ahead 10-8 midway through regulation time.
After seven points in one minute Canada went down three to up by four. Neftchi attempted to reclaim their early advantage but Paige Crozon was on hand to bring her team to within a point, which was eventually scored by Katherine Plouffe, bringing this roller coaster game to a close with a Canadian win on the board.
Next up for Canada, Italy's Raelin D'Alie was making it difficult for them early on, but Canada remained unfazed and consistent in the paint and Michelle Plouffe put back plenty of second chance shots to grow her team's lead.
Crozon then had four points in a row and Michelle added another layup to give Canada a seven-point lead. Overpowered, Italy were resigned to the loss and when time expeired Canada were victorious by 17 points to 9.
Canada had made short work of the pool stage and finished first overall, but together tests were to come. When the knockout stage began on Saturday they faced new faces in Chinese club Yuanda, for whom Saiqi Jia single handedly built a 4-1 lead thirty seconds in.
From there Canada kept closing the gap and after five points unanswered they now had a one-point lead.
Yuanda remained consistent in the low post and it remained a single-possession game for the rest of regulation, which ended with Katherine Plouffe sending the game to OT.
There she put up another point and Crozon put the game to bed and Canada into the semi finals, all four teams that had made this state were yet to see defeat in Orleans. For Canada, they would face Spain for a place in the final, and it was a close start with both teams driving in the paint, with Katherine keeping Canada in front.
Spain then went five points unanswered and led by three, but the Plouffes combined to level the scoreline, but their opponents were still finding open looks and kept themselves in front. A foul on Vera Gimeno sent her to the line, where she converted both shots ending Canada's campaign in Orleans and sending Spain to the final.
Spain went on to prevent another USA victory in a 3x3 tournament, defeating the Americans 17-14 in the final. Though that was where Canada had hoped to be, Orleans was a good start to the 2023 season for the defending champions. The Plouffes both finished in the top three scorers throughout the two days, with Michelle among the tournament's top defensive players with 6.8 total boards per game.
Canada are next due to compete in Fribourg, Switzerland, on July 6th. Until then, follow this link to the official FIBA website to find out more about what happened in Orleans and the 3x3 Women's Series.
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