FIBA Women's World Cup begins without Canada. Is it a setback for national team, or a reset for LA28?

It was a cruel twist of fate.

Just three days before the WNBA and its players landed on a new collective bargaining agreement — one that would officialize Canada’s first WNBA team’s inaugural season — the country’s national team was dealt a blow.

It was eliminated from World Cup contention. And by Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello’s Australian team, no less.

“I felt like, they’re going to kick me out now. And in the end I had to remember what hat I’m wearing and what name I have across the front of my chest,” Brondello said, citing a bit of awkwardness at her conflicting roles.

“It was a hard-fought game. I feel sorry for Canada. I think they’re a really strong team and they’ve got some great young players coming through, so they’re gonna be strong for years and sometimes you need a little reset to get back up. We did the same thing after Tokyo.”

“Canada’s going to be fine. I know they’ve got the Swords [sisters] and got some great players from the college system and they get their hands on them and add to that, I think they’re going to be in a good spot.”

On Monday, the WNBA will break for two-and-a-half weeks to allow its players to compete at the World Cup, which begins in Berlin Sept. 4. Canada, thanks to that 82-76 loss to an already-qualified Australian squad in March, won’t be there, even despite a fourth-place finish at the 2022 edition of the event.

Some better news arrived Sunday, when Canada crushed Mexico 83-53 to complete a 5-0 pre-qualifying tournament in Guadalajara and book its spot in a 2028 Olympic qualifier set for that February.

Syla Swords, the 20-year-old mentioned by Brondello as one of Canada’s bright young stars alongside sister Savvy, won tournament MVP after averaging 14.8 points, 3.6