In case you missed it, the Canadian Women’s National Basketball Team is set to return to Victoria later this month!
The excitement is growing in Victoria as W’Hoop It Up returns and the team is set to take on the UCLA Bruins after their NCAA championship win.
The sport of basketball is growing in Canada, with strong performances from both the men’s and women’s national teams in recent years. As they try to make their mark on the international level, it’s games like this that set the stage for international competition.
There’s a lot to know about this historic match-up, so we wanted to take some time and highlight what this game means for Team Canada and Victoria as the city hosts them at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.
The 2028 Olympic Games will take place in Los Angeles, where the Canadian Women’s National Team hopes to impress the world. To do so, they’ll need several strong performances before they can make it there.
Without further ado, here are 8 things to know about the Canada versus UCLA match at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre:
The game will take place on July 22nd
The Save-On-Foods Memorial centre has become a favourite spot for the Canadian Women’s National Team, and Victoria is becoming a home away from home for the national team.
Victoria is proud to have such a close relationship with the team, who is hoping to sell out the stadium for the contest.
The game will take place on Wednesday, July 22nd, and the excitement surrounding the game continues to grow.
Canada is currently ranked 7th globally
The Canadian Senior Women’s Basketball team has been making strides in recent years, establishing themselves as a powerhouse in women’s basketball.
According to the 2026 rankings from the International Basketball Federation, or Fédération Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) in French, the Canadian Senior Women’s Basketball team is ranked seventh globally.
The Americans sit on top in the rankings, with a score of 719.1, where Canada is sitting at 541.5 points, ranked just under Spain and Belgium, ranked 6th and 5th respectively.
UCLA dominated in the NCAA this past year
The UCLA Bruins had a strong performance in Division I NCAA play this year, coming out of the league as champions.
This was the team’s first win in the NCAA era, as they beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 79-51, marking the potential of a new era of dominance for the Bruins.
The game is expected to be the highest-profile women’s game ever played on Canadian Soil
With both teams performing well in recent years, this game is expected to be the most important and highest-quality game ever played on Canadian soil.
Because both the UCLA Bruins and the Canadian women’s team have played so well recently, the contest should be a competitive one, and will give fans an idea of the strength of both teams leading into future play.
Canada is preparing for the Olympic pre-qualifying tournament later this summer
This match will be a good test of strength for the women’s team as they prepare for an Olympic pre-qualifying tournament taking place in August this year.
The tournament will take place in Guadalajara, Mexico, where Canada’s group features Mexico, the Philippines and Senegal.
The team has a good chance to top the group. Senegal is currently ranked 22nd overall in the FIBA standings, with the Philippines and Mexico ranked 30th and 31st respectively.
The other group at the tournament features Brazil, who will likely be their toughest opponent at the tournament, currently ranked 9th overall.
This match represents a training opportunity for Team Canada
The team had their first training camp in Montreal from June 20th to 28th, where they fielded their first on-court gathering of players ahead of what may be a long road to the 2028 Olympics.
This match in Victoria represents the team’s second training camp experience. If the team delivers a strong performance against UCLA, hopes will be high at the pre-qualifying tournament in Mexico.
The team consists of seasoned veterans and emerging new talent
As the sport of basketball grows in Canada, the national team is able to dig deeper into a pool of talent in the country.
The current roster features those with experience at previous Olympic games, as well as the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, FIBA Women’s AmeriCup, and other high-profile competitions.
Alongside those veteran players, emerging high-level players are becoming more commonplace, and several players will be trying to make their mark on the world stage.
Keep an eye out for Kayla Alexander, who is coming off a record-setting summer which saw her break the rebounding record for the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup.
You can buy tickets now
You can already buy tickets to this game, on the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre’s website here.
The women’s team has been gaining notoriety and popularity in Victoria, so game is already filling up quickly.
Be sure to buy your tickets soon so you don’t miss out!
W’Hoop It Up: Canada versus UCLA at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
- Where: Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, 1925 Blanshard Street
- When: Wednesday, July 22nd – 7 p.m.
