9-11-2023 11:57pm

Canada's basketball team won the bronze medal by defeating the USA in the FIBA World Cup. Here are five key takeaways from their victory.

Anita Johnson-Brown Editor

September 11, 2023, By Anita Johnson-Brown

Canada's basketball team earned their first-ever FIBA World Cup medal by defeating the USA and adding a new dimension to their rivalry. The United States now has an emerging rival in their neighbors to the north.

Led by All-NBA guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Canadian team had a roster stacked with young NBA talent. Based on their play in the World Cup, both Canada and the United States have qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, and fans will be clamoring for a rematch next summer.

Dillon Brooks and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had no answers from the USA team. The Canadian duo of Brooks and Gilgeous-Alexanders combined for 70 points, while the top two USA scorers combined for 47.

The US team constantly dug themselves double-digit holes to climb out of and essentially played from behind from start to finish. The Canadians absorbed the blows and took a two-point lead into the locker room. Canada turned a one-point lead into a nine-point lead, forcing the US to rally to stay in the game.

Mikal Bridges pulled off a miracle to force overtime, but the US stumbled in the extra five minutes. The US committed turnovers on three straight possessions as Canada seized back control and closed out the game.

With the United States returning from the World Cup without a medal, questions are already mounting about which players from this team will be part of the Olympic roster. Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, and Mikal Bridges made strong cases to be included on next year’s Olympic roster.