Alberta's Yvonne Ejim named to Canadian Olympic Team

Alberta Basketball Association (ABA) alumnus Yvonne Ejim has been named to the Canadian women’s basketball roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The roster was announced July 2 by Canada Basketball and the Canadian Olympic Committee.

Team Canada 🇨🇦 is here to make history 🔥#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/2LO7xhTRzo

— FIBA (@FIBA) July 2, 2024

Ejim, a 22-year-old forward from Calgary, will make her Olympic debut at the Summer Games later this month in France. She is the only athlete from outside of Ontario and Quebec to be named to the 12-player roster.

“Congratulations to Yvonne on being named to the Canadian Olympic Team,” says Dave Drabiuk, ABA Executive Director. “There is no greater honour than being able to represent your country on sports’ greatest stage. Everyone at ABA is tremendously proud of Yvonne, and we can’t wait to cheer her on in Paris.”

Ejim averaged 19.7 points and 8.3 rebounds in 2023-24, her fourth season of NCAA women’s Division 1 basketball with the Gonzaga Bulldogs in 2023-24. She was named the 2024 Becky Hammon Player of the Year, West Coast Conference (WCC) Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year and received an AP All-American Honourable Mention. Ejim helped Gonzaga reach the Sweet Sixteen of March Madness.

Growing up in Calgary, Ejim spent several years involved with ABA provincial team programming. She suited up for Team Alberta at the Basketball Canada National Championships in 2016 (U15), 2018 and 2019 (U17), and represented her province at the 2017 Canada Summer Games. Ejim was a three-time tournament All-Star at the Canada Basketball national championships (U17 Second Team in 2019 and 2018, U15 Second Team in 2016).

Ejim becomes the fourth ABA alumnus who will be competing at the 2024 Summer Games, joining Kacie Bosch (Lethbridge), Katherine Plouffe (Edmonton) and Michelle Plouffe (Edmonton) of the Canadian women's 3x3 team. 

The women’s basketball tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics will take place from July 27 to August 11. Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille will host the preliminary phase before the final phase shifts to Paris and Bercy Arena.  Canada’s first tournament game will be on July 29 against France at 9:15 a.m. MT.

ABA will be hosting a watch party for Team Canada. Stay tuned to the ABA website and social media for details.