Final clash between Canada and Italy for the last Olympic spot

The game will be held Friday at 2am (ET)

Ottawa, February 14, 2024 - The Water Polo Canada Women's National Team will face Italy on Friday at 2am (ET) at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar, in order to determine which of the two teams will earn the last spot for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

On Wednesday, Canada and Italy lost in their respective ranking matches for positions 5 to 8, which resulted in a matchup to come between the two squads to determine positions 7 and 8, but also in an ultimate battle where the winner will be awarded the last available ticket for the women's water polo tournament in Paris.

Canada and Italy met in the group stage and the European team won 12-8.

“We still have a chance to qualify right now, and it’s great to be able to play against the team that we're up against for the spot at the Olympics,” said Water Polo Canada’s Women’s Head Coach, David Paradelo.

“We know this team and we know what to expect. So we're going to be prepared and we're going to give it our all and get that spot for Paris,” added Team Captain Emma Wright.

“It will be our most important game and I think that if we put in the same intensity and we polish a few things up, we will win,” said Axelle Crevier.

On Wednesday, the Canadian team lost 10-8 against Australia while the Netherlands defeated Italy 10-5. Emma Wright (3), Verica Bakoc (2), Elyse Lemay-Lavoie (1), Serena Browne (1) and Kindred Paul (1) scored in the loss for Canada.

“I think the team fought really hard,” assessed Emma Wright. “We had some unfortunate moments where we let Australia get ahead of us, and I think that was our downfall in the end. But we fought really hard and I think both teams played a great game. It was unfortunate that we lost in the end.”

“The girls fought their hearts out,” said David Paradelo. “It was a qualification game for the Olympics for us and it showed in the intensity level. It was one of the most intense games of the tournament, all games put together, so as a coach I can't ask for more from the athletes. We had maybe one soft moment at the beginning of the game and then another one at the beginning of the fourth quarter, when we had the lead. That hurt, but we clawed back, clawed back, clawed back until the last possession. It was a great fight.”

Games are streamed on the CBC Sports ((https://www.cbc.ca/sports/streaming-schedule?sport=Aquatics-Water-Polo), Radio-Canada Sports (https://ici.radio-canada.ca/sports/diffusions and https://ici.tou.tv/en-direct) and World Aquatics (https://www.worldaquatics.com/watch-live) web platforms.

Canadian Women’s National Team for the 2024 World Aquatics Championships
BAKOC, Verica (Toronto, ON) - Mavericks
BROWNE, Serena (Pointe-Claire, QC) - DDO
CARROLL, Floranne (Montréal, QC) - CAMO
CREVIER, Axelle (Montréal, QC) - CAMO
GAUDREAULT, Jessica (Ottawa, ON) - Capital Wave
GUÈVREMONT, Daphné (Montréal, QC) - CAMO
LA ROCHE, Shae (Winnipeg, MB) - Winnipeg Bushido/EAU Laval
LEKNESS, Rae (Calgary, AB) - Calgary Renegades
LEMAY-LAVOIE, Elyse (Montréal, QC) - CAMO
MCDOWELL, Blaire (Fernie, B.C.) - Water Polo Saskatchewan
McKELVEY, Hayley (North Delta, B.C.) - Pacific Storm
MIMIDES, Maria Eleni (Marilia) (Glyfada, GRE, & Toronto, ON) - DDO
PAUL, Kindred (Spruce Grove, AB) - Edmonton Tsunami - Edmonton Tsunami
VULPISI, Clara (Montréal, QC) - CAMO
WRIGHT, Emma (Whitby, ON) - Scarborough Shadow Water polo

Alternate: DAVIS, Lucy (Port Moody, B.C.) - Pacific Storm

Water Polo Canada Women’s National Team Support Staff for the 2024 World Aquatics Championships
Head Coach: David Paradelo
Assistant Coaches: Cora Campbell & Stefano Posterivo
Massage Therapist: Manon Prieur
Physiotherapist: Brian Li
Mental Performance Coach (preparatory training camp): Sommer Christie
Video Coach: Francisco Zelaya
Team Manager: Mitch Kaufman
High Performance Director: Olivier Pineau

Hélène Painchaud from Montréal, QC, is attending the 2024 World Aquatics Championships as a referee.

More information is available on Water Polo Canada’s website at https://waterpolo.ca/content/doha-2024.