Canadian women open wheelchair basketball worlds with win against Spain in Ottawa

The Canadian women opened their wheelchair basketball worlds campaign with a blowout victory in Ottawa on Wednesday.

Led by Arinn Young's game-high 18 points and Kady Dandeneau's 17-point, 14-rebound double-double, Canada cruised to a 76-51 victory at TD Place.

Canada quickly regrouped after falling behind 21-15 after the opening quarter to take control and put the result effectively out of reach heading into the final frame.

"We were just really nervous in front of the home crowd," Young said of the team's slow start. "We were quick to recognize what was going on, acknowledged those feelings and it brought us back down to being calm."

Spain entered competition with the distinction of three-time defending European championship bronze winners, placing eighth at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, where Canada finished fourth.

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Elsewhere in Group A, China beat Australia 48-37, while Great Britain thumped Brazil 78-41.

This year's men's and women's competition is hosted in Ottawa.

The Canadian women will next face Australia on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. ET at Carleton University.

Later on Wednesday, the Canadian men are scheduled to play Morocco at 7:30 p.m. at TD Place.

Ottawa 2026 IWBF Women's Wheelchair Basketball World Championships: Canada vs. Spain