The Canadian women's wheelchair basketball team's road back to the medal podium at the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) world championships began with a 61-56 win over Brazil on Saturday in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Kady Dandeneau of Pender Island, B.C., was sensational in the victory, pouring in 31 points, 17 rebounds and five assists. The 33-year-old headlines a team led by new head coach Marni Abbott-Peter, who takes over a team that won gold at the 2022 Americas Cup in July, but is looking to get back onto the world championship podium after missing out for the first time in 2018.
Brazil held the lead through the majority of the first half before Dandeneau recorded 17 points in a third quarter that saw Canada outscore its opponent 19-10 to take a five-point advantage into the final frame.
Quebec City's Cindy Ouellet scored Canada's go-ahead basket three minutes into the second half to make it 37-36, with the Canadians never trailing again for the rest of the game.