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Winnipeg's Potter proud to represent Canada at Oly qualifier – Winnipeg Free Press

Posted on by Neons

Emily Potter was in Australia last month when she received the most important call of her career.

On the other end of the emotional phone call was Canada's senior women's basketball head coach Victor Lapeña, who said the Winnipeg-born center was selected to help the program qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Potter took an immediate leave of absence from her professional team, the Perth Links of the Women's National Basketball League, flew to Vienna to train with the national team, then traveled to Sopron, Hungary for the FIBA ​​Women's Basketball Olympic Qualifier.

MUAD ISSA / BASKETBALL CANADA Emily Potter is the only Manitoban on the Canadian women's basketball team that will play in the FIBA ​​Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

MUAD ISSA / BASKETBALL CANADA

Emily Potter is the only Manitoban on the Canadian women's basketball team to compete in the FIBA ​​Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

The Canadian women open CT against the host nation at noon on Thursday.

“This is the biggest team and place I've been in my basketball career,” Potter said Wednesday. “I was shocked, I'm not going to lie, but in a great way. I'm always happy to be here and represent Canada.

“When you're in it, you just focus on training, trying to prepare. So maybe it sounds a little crazy, but it's been a whirlwind,” said the Glenlawn College graduate, who called Winnipeg home during the off-season.

No. 7 Canada is paired with No. 6 Spain, No. 8 Japan and No. 13 Hungary in the 16-team tournament. If Canada cracks the top three in the pool, it qualifies for the Summer Games.

Of the 12 places for Paris, it is still under consideration. France is automatically entered as the host nation, while the United States secured a spot after winning the 2022 FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup.

The Canadiens will be without star defenseman Kia Nurse with a minor injury before this week's tournament. He is expected to return to the Olympics if he qualifies for Canada.

The national coaching staff is familiar with Potter's game.

The 28-year-old led the Canadian women to a third-place finish at the FIBA ​​Women's Americas tournament in Mexico last summer. He also played in the 2019 Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru.

At 6-4, Potter is the tallest player on this year's team and the only player listed as a center, which should pave the way for significant minutes over the next few days.

“Emily has been committed and improved throughout her four years,” Lapeña said. “He always answers when I call him and we love how he works. He's a great teammate, adds to the middle and always competes. Emily adds presence to the rim at both ends. We are happy to have him with us.”

Potter is the only Manitoba player on the squad, a badge he wears with pride.

“I love being Canadian first and foremost,” he said. “But more importantly, I love being from Manitoba and being able to represent that province.

“We're a small but mighty province and basketball has been growing for as long as I've been playing,” he continued. “I want to see the game grow, not just in my province, but across Canada. I think it's become very clear in the last decade – men and women.”