Team Canada U-23 WNT Globl Jam Standouts

Our Toronto, Canada, based contributor, Layth Dahman, continues his series, based on his experience at this year's iteration of Globl Jam, now through highlighting the key athletes that contributed to the, U-23 Canadian Women's National Team, tournament winning performance!

Style of Play:

Team Canada plays a fast, transition-driven game with a high octane, pace and space

offense. Their quick, explosive rim running bigs outpace opponents, securing high-

percentage layups and drawing defensive focus to the paint, which opens trail threes

and catch and-shoot pull up threes on leak-outs. They score quick fast-break points

before defenses set. In the half-court, their drive and kick offense emphasizes ball

movement, with nearly every player a three-point threat, complicating closeouts for

opponents. Physical bigs set hard picks, freeing pick and roll ball-handlers to initiate

drive and kick or dribble penetrations. Guards penetrate deep, collapsing defenses to

find open shooters for catch and shoot threes. Picks often facilitate playmakers rather

than bigs scoring as rollers. The half-court features free-flowing offense with pindowns

and off-ball screens, positioning players for high-percentage threes or rim attacks using

closeout momentum. Post ups, though possible, are less effective, aligning with

opponents’ slower pace. Defensively, Canada avoids switching with guards fighting

through picks, funneling offenses toward help defense and rim-protecting bigs, who

contest shots and trigger transitions after stops.

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Player Analysis:

Avery Howell | G | 6'0" | 19 Years Old | 2028 Draft Year | Washington

Avery Howell, a combo guard, excels with or without the ball, primarily as an elite three-

point shooter. She hits threes off the dribble creating separation with step-back jumpers

and operates in catch and shoot scenarios. Off the ball, she constantly moves,

relocates, and navigates multiple off-ball screens fluidly to find open spots for high-

percentage catch and shoot threes or uses momentum to attack the rim. She has a

quick release, fluid mechanics, deep range, and high release point allowing her to shoot

over smaller defenders and makes her unaffected by contests. Aggressively hunting

shots, she scores from wings and corners, forcing defenses to close out, opening up

driving lanes. Beyond three-point shooting, she drives effectively, attacking closeouts at

her own pace, finishing craftily in the paint with strong footwork despite crowded

defenses. Being a clutch scorer who scores in bunches she erases deficits quickly and

keeps games close. She also facilitates as a willing passer, finding open teammates,

knowing their spots, and setting them up for success. She makes drive and kick passes,

post entry passes, and pick and roll passes, collapsing defenses to set up uncontested

threes or finding rollers for high-percentage shots inside. She handles double teams

and hedges in pick and rolls, quickly passing to bigs for finishes. Her post-entry passes

wait for deep positioning, ensuring high-percentage shots. As a guard, her high-level

rebounding fuels Canada’s fast-paced style, grabbing defensive rebounds and pushing

the pace as a ball-handler or following teammates’ misses in transition on leak-outs.

Defensively, she’s a two-way standout, never letting her offensive load diminish her

effort. She excels one on one, moving her feet, cutting off driving lanes, and beating

matchups to their spots. In transition, she prevents easy shots, preferring hard fouls to

force free-throw attempts. Off-ball, she sticks to matchups, limits cuts, limits quality

movement along the three-point line, and navigates screens to close gaps. Her balance

of scoring, facilitating, and high-level defense earned her Global Jam MVP.

Latasha Lattimore | F | 6'4" | 2026 Draft Year | Ole Miss

Latasha Lattimore excels as a rim running big, quickly leaking out for high-percentage

layups with strong hands to catch and finish. Her rim running fuels Canada’s fast-paced

offense for quick baskets. In pick and pop situations, her quick release, fluid mechanics,

and size allow her to shoot over smaller defenders. With guard-like skills, she draws

closeouts, puts the ball on the floor, and either plays back to the basket with strong

footwork or drives to the rim. In limited pick and roll ball-handling, she hits threes off the

dribble or drives straight to the rim, enabling tough to stop big to big pick and roll

actions. Her tight handle prevents turnovers. Off the ball, she moves well, flashing out

from the high post to the three-point line or is constantly moving along the three-point

line and relocating to open space to exhaust defenders. Her quickness and mobility

allow her to cut past off-ball defenders for push shots or floaters over smaller help

defenders. Her three-point shooting and floor spacing enable Canada’s double big

lineups where she plays at the 4. She struggles finishing against larger, physical

defenders but uses an effective shot fake to get them off-balance, a skillset she could

employ more. She sets hard picks and off-ball screens, freeing teammates and easing

their game. Defensively, she’s a rim protecting anchor, rotating quickly from the weak

side to block shots with timing, instincts, and discipline, avoiding fouls. Canada funnels

offenses toward her. She can also fight through off-ball screens and close the gap on

the off-ball player getting quality looks from three-point range using her length. This

gives her the qualities of being a small ball 5 in spurts.

Shayeann Day-Wilson | G | 5'6" | 22 Years Old | UDFA (2025 Draft Class)

Shayeann Day-Wilson is an undersized guard who flashes three-level scoring, thriving

in transition with quickness, explosiveness, and change of speed and direction that

outmaneuver defenders. Her strong, physical frame shields off defenders when driving,

despite her size. She is aggressive attacking the rim and is always looking to get

downhill. When finishing in the paint she has good footwork and is a crafty finisher.

When she faces tough full-court coverages and larger defenders she navigates them

with speed and explosiveness to blow by. She takes dribble pull-up jumpers in

transition, but opponents sag off, daring her to shoot threes which is her weaker area.

Her quick release shot is flat with little backspin, though her lift helps her shoot over

defenders. Excessive lift contributes to her flat shot, and her small stature hinders

separation on step-back jumpers, allowing recoveries and tough shots. A rhythm

shooter, she makes or misses jumpers in bunches, performing better in the flow of the

game, especially as a pick and roll ball-handler where hard picks free her for mid-range

or three-point shots. Against smaller guards, like Puerto Rico’s, she backs them down in

the post for turnaround shots, though this is situational. As a passer, she facilitates drive

and kick and dribble penetration, collapsing defenses to find open shooters for catch

and shoot threes, fueling Canada’s drive and kick offense. Her tight window passes and

dribbling through traffic can lead to turnovers. A clutch scorer, she’s a go-to option,

decisive and poised late in games, undeterred by earlier misses. Defensively, she’s

high-level, with lateral quickness to deny driving lanes on isolations. Stronger than she

appears, she resists post ups, fights through picks with a low base, and pressures ball-

handlers from the backcourt to prevent drives. Her anticipation in passing lanes sparks

fast-break opportunities where she is creating offense from defense.

Yvonne Ejim | F | 6'0" | 23 Years Old | UFA (2025 Draft Class)

Yvonne Ejim dominates as a rim running big and post up threat, efficiently finishing in

the paint. She outruns opposing bigs in transition on leak-outs, using good hands for

catch and finish plays, setting a fast pace vital to Canada’s high-octane offense. Her

relentless rim running pressures defenses, opening catch and shoot or pull-up threes for

teammates. In the post, her size, strength, and physicality secure deep positioning, with

good footwork and touch on hook shots. She seals off smaller defenders for high

catches and finishes. She absorbs contact, draws fouls, and shoots free-throws

effectively, staying valuable late in games. An aggressive rebounder, she crashes the

offensive glass for extra possessions and grabs defensive rebounds to limit opponents’

second-chance opportunities, chasing rebounds out of her zone and securing contested

boards through traffic while keeping the ball high to avoid strips. She facilitates

Canada’s free-flowing offense with hard off-ball screens and pindowns, freeing shooters

for high-percentage catch and shoot threes, and initiates dribble handoffs. Defensively,

she’s a quick weak-side shot-blocker, rotating to contest shots, and an effective post

defender, using strength and physicality to deny deep post positioning.

Tara Wallack | G/F | 6'2" | 22 Years Old | UDFA (2025 Draft Class)

Tara Wallack is a versatile forward who can operate in many situations. Her best skillset

is initiating dribble handoffs for teammates or faking dribble handoffs and getting to the

rim or playing back to the basket. She has a nice finishing touch in the paint. She has

an effective tight handle for her size and she can protect the ball to where defenders

can't get to it. When attacking the rim she is able to finish through contact and traffic

getting to the free-throw line. She sets effective picks and rolls to the rim, leveraging her

mobility and quickness, while also slipping picks to find open space. She cuts to the rim

on baseline out of bounds plays, locating open areas for efficient shots, making it an

effective play. As an inside-out player, her rim-attacking ability creates opportunities for

quality catch and shoot three-pointers. Off the ball, she moves constantly, finding open

space and relocating for high-percentage three-point shots, which she delivers with a

quick-release push shot that, despite a slight hitch, remains efficient and draws

closeouts. When closed out on, she fluidly drives to the rim. She uses her size on

switches to post up smaller players, hitting turnaround shots. Her high motor drives her

hustle for loose balls and 50-50 balls. Defensively, she shows switchable half-court

defense, guarding multiple positions. Though lacking some footspeed and lateral

quickness, her foot movement and physicality compensate. In transition, she’s effective

quickly getting back to force contested rim shots and limit fast-break points. She also

defends the post well, matching up against bigger threats, walling up with a strong base

to force tough low-percentage off-balance shots.

Phillipina Kyei | C | 6'8" | 22 Years Old | UDFA (2025 Draft Class)

Phillipina Kyei is a big who excels at setting hard picks in the pick and roll, freeing

teammates and simplifying the game for them. Her picks often eliminate the primary

defender on the ball-handler, forcing switches for favorable matchups that enable

Canada’s drive and kick offense with strong ball movement. Though her impact doesn’t

appear in the box score, it reflects in her teammates’ offensive success, earning her

numerous screen assists. When scoring opportunities arise, she rolls quickly and hard

to the rim, securing high-percentage uncontested paint shots. Defensively, while not a

shot blocker, she protects the rim with a strong interior presence, using her size and

length to alter and challenge shots, making it difficult for opponents to finish in the paint.

Merissah Russell | G | 6'0" | 23 Years Old | UDFA (2025 Draft Class)

Merissah Russell, an off-ball guard, excels as a catch and shoot three-point threat,

moving constantly without the ball to find open space. Her quick release and fluid

mechanics make her a confident, shot ready three-point specialist, with most shots from

beyond the arc. Even when not making shots, her high-volume three-point attempts

space the floor for teammates. As a pick and roll ball-handler, she navigates picks

quickly to take off the dribble threes fluidly. Her shooting draws hard closeouts, opening

driving lanes where she changes speeds with poise, keeping defenders off balance. A

crafty finisher with good footwork in the paint, she navigates rim protection and engages

in give and go actions with the big. Her slight hesitation and direction changes in off-ball

movement make her hard to guard. She occasionally uses a push shot or floater when

cutting to the rim but needs better touch and poise to avoid rushing uncontested paint

shots, sometimes losing body control for tough off-balance attempts. Defensively, she

rotates well, positions herself correctly, and draws charges.

Kyrah Daniels | G | 6'0" | 2027 Draft Year | Wisconsin

Kyrah Daniels, an effective 2 guard, excels in transition, leaking out to drive all the way

to the rim and finishing through contact. In the half-court, she’s best as a catch and

shoot three-point shooter with a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics.

Jordyn Wheeler | G | 6'0" | 17 Years Old | 2030 Draft Year | Niagara Prep

Jordyn Wheeler, an extremely young guard, competed above her age group at a higher

level in the Global Jam tournament, gaining valuable experience. In her limited minutes,

she proved to be an effective slasher, using her quick first step to blow by defenders,

get to the rim, and finish in the paint.

Written By: Layth Dahman