Windsor's Miah-Marie Langlois named to senior women's national team try-out roster
It is an important summer for the Senior Women’s National Team, and Canada Basketball is thrilled to announce the try-out invitees who will be vying for a spot on the 2014 squad. The try-outs begin June 9 in Edmonton, AB – the SWNT’s home base.
Canada will be competing in the 2014 FIBA World Championships for Women, hosted by Turkey from September 27 to October 5. The team qualified for the tournament by finishing with a silver medal at the 2013 FIBA Americas tournament.
Between the player roster and coaching staff, there are many familiar faces returning to the fold. Lisa Thomaidis is at the helm as head coach for a second season. Shawnee Harle and Bev Smith join her as assistant coaches, while Theresa Burns will be a guest coach.
Thomaidis is tasked with having to parse through a highly talented group of athletes to create the roster that will represent Canada in their journey to the World Championships. The invitees include former Olympians, decorated pro players and young stars with bright futures.
“There’s a tremendous amount of talent coming in for try-outs. Our team is getting older and more experienced, there are a lot of players playing professional around the world and for them to then bring their talents back and vying for a spot on our national team is really going to be exciting to see,” said Thomaidis.
“We made some great strides last summer – both individually and from a team perspective – so it will be fun to see the improvements made in this season. We’re super excited to get going and see what the summer will bring. “
After a four day try-out period, the coaching staff will select a squad that will compete throughout the summer. The selected SWNT is set to have a training camp from June 16-25 as part of a solid summer of preparation.
To gear up for the World Championships, the team will compete against No. 7 ranked Brazil in a three-game series, hosted by the City of Edmonton at the Saville Community Sports Centre. Those games will take place on June 26, 27 and 28. Team Canada will have two more training camps as well as a trip to Europe for exhibition play before the World Championships.
Players invited to 2014 SWNT Tryout by Invitation
| Name | Position | Height | Hometown | Club/School (2013-14) |
| Natalie Achonwa | Forward | 6’3” | Guelph, Ont. | Notre Dame (NCAA) |
| Kayla Alexander | Centre | 6’4” | Milton, Ont. | Energy Ivanovo (Russia) – San Antonio Stars (WNBA) |
| Miranda Ayim | Forward | 6’2” | London, Ont. | Toulouse (France) |
| Krysten Boogaard | Centre | 6’5” | Regina, Sask. | Kangoeroes (Belgium) |
| Shay Colley | Guard | 5’9” | Brampton, Ont. | St. Edmund Campion S.S. |
| Nirra Fields | Guard | 5’7” | Montreal, Que. | UCLA (NCAA) |
| Kim Gaucher | Guard | 5’11” | Mission, B.C. | Arras (France) |
| Ruth Hamblin | Centre | 6’6” | Houston, B.C. | Oregon State (NCAA) |
| Kalisha Keane | Forward | 6’0” | Ajax, Ont. | Elitzur Netanya (Israel) |
| Miah-Marie Langlois | Guard | 5’7” | Windsor, Ont. | Windsor (OUA) |
| Lizanne Murphy | Forward | 6’0” | Montreal, Que. | Angers (France) |
| Kia Nurse | Guard | 5’10” | Hamilton, Ont. | St. Thomas More C.S.S. |
| Courtnay Pilypaitis | Guard | 6’0” | Orleans, Ont. | Unattached |
| Katherine Plouffe | Forward | 6’3” | Edmonton, AB. | Marquette (NCAA) |
| Michelle Plouffe | Forward | 6’3” | Edmonton, AB. | Utah (NCAA) |
| Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe | Forward | 6’1” | Vernon, B.C. | Pully (Switzerland) |
| Karly Roser | Guard | 5’9” | Hamilton, Ont. | Northwestern (NCAA) |
| Kendel Ross | Forward | 5’11” | Sarnia, Ont. | Unattached |
| Tamara Tatham | Forward | 6’0” | Brampton, Ont. | Piestanske Cajky (Slovakia) |
| Shona Thorburn | Guard | 5’9” | Hamilton, Ont. | Toulouse (France) |
| Jamie Weisner | Guard | 5’9” | Clarkston, WA | Oregon State (NCAA) |
Coaching & Support Staff
| Name | Position | Hometown |
| Lisa Thomaidis | Head Coach | Dundas, ON |
| Shawnee Harle | Assistant Coach | Calgary, AB. |
| Bev Smith | Assistant Coach | Eugene, OR |
| TBC | Assistant Coach/Performance Analyst |
|
| Theresa Burns | Guest Coach | Hamilton, Ont. |
| Fabian McKenzie | DWNT Head Coach | Sydney, N.S. |
| Dipesh Mistry | Performance Analyst | Toronto, Ont. |
| Anne Marie Thuss | Team Manager | Hamilton, Ont. |
| Mikaela Berza | Team Manager | Mississauga, Ont. |
| Joan Mlynarczyk | IST Lead & Head Therapist | Toronto, Ont. |
| Marcel Charland | Athletic & Massage Therapist | Toronto, Ont. |
| Michelle Bell | Athletic Therapist | Brampton, Ont. |
| Jennifer Bushell | Athletic Therapist | Toronto, Ont. |
| Sarah Kim | Lead Physician | Toronto, Ont. |
| Marni Wesner | Edmonton Lead Physician | Edmonton, AB. |
| Randy Bahadur | Physician phase 2 | Kitchener, Ont. |
| Jessica Butler | Physician phase 3 | Ottawa, Ont. |
| Chris DalCin | Basketball Scientist | Toronto, Ont. |
| Ed McNeely | Basketball Scientist | London, Ont. |
| Peter Jensen | Sport Psychologist | Toronto, Ont. |
