Basketball's Veinot named to FISU Games Team Canada

TORONTO – U SPORTS announced Wednesday its Team Canada delegation for the 2019 FISU Summer Universiade in Naples, Italy. Included in the announcement was the roster of the women's basketball team who will represent Canada at the 2019 Universiade Games in Napoli, Italy from July 3-14. Acadia's Jayda Veinot was named to the women's Team Canada roster.

From Port Williams, N.S., Veinot was named the AUS Rookie of the Year this past season. Veinot led all AUS rookies in points and finished eighth in the conference, averaging 15.0 per game. She had 300 points this season, along with 4.5 rebounds per game.

She finished third in the league in free-throw percentage with 83.0, and had 91 rebounds, 59 assists, and 11 blocks on the season.

Along with being honoured as the conference's top rookie, she was also named an AUS second team all-star today and earned a place on the AUS all-rookie team.

On Feb. 9 versus the Cape Breton Capers, she scored 41 points, tying the Acadia school record for points in a single game.

She was named to the AUS Championship Tournament All-Star Team and honoured twice as the U SPORTS Player of the Game at the 2019 U SPORTS Championship tournament this past March. Jayda was also named to the U SPORTS women's basketball All-Rookie Team.

"I've dreamed of playing for Canada for as long as I can remember so I'm thrilled to get the chance to represent both Acadia and Canada in Italy this summer," said Veinot.

Acadia head coach Len Harvey was thrilled to know Veinot will get to experience international play.

"It's a real honour to represent your country in any capacity, and Jayda will get to experience this after only her freshman season at Acadia. She's worked hard and is ready for this opportunity. We're very proud of her, and I know she will be a fantastic selection to the FISU roster," noted Harvey after learning of her selection to Team Canada.

Canada will compete in Pool D that includes China, Finland and Australia beginning July 3, 2019.

Canada will compete in 12 sports, including athletics, basketball (men and women), diving, fencing, gymnastics (artistic and rhythmic), soccer (women only), swimming, table tennis, taekwando, rugby sevens (men and women), volleyball (men and women) and water polo (women only). All teams were selected in partnership with each respective National Sports Organization (NSO) or are being managed by the U SPORTS national office.

The full delegation totals over 300 including student-athletes, coaches, staff, and medical personnel.

Complete rosters are available below, with men's rugby sevens to be added at a later date.

"The Mission Staff is looking forward to delivering a great experience for our Canadian delegation," said Team Canada Chef de Mission Ari Grossman. "Representing Canada at any sporting event is a huge honour and responsibility and we are pleased to welcome all team members and congratulate them on this exciting accomplishment."

To celebrate the milestone 30^th edition and 60^th anniversary of the World University Summer Games, the event returns to its first home, where it was originally held in Turin, Italy in 1969. 

Canada finished in 16^th at the 2017 FISU Summer Universiade in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei with 13 medals (four gold, five silver, four bronze). This year's games will run from July 3-14, with some competitions beginning on July 2 and will feature over 9,300 athletes from 128 countries.

The Opening Ceremony will be held on July 3 at 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT (9:00 p.m. local time). The full schedule is available here.

"We are very excited to reveal the members of Team Canada for the 2019 FISU Summer Universiade. Every student-athlete on this team has shown the ability to balance academics and athletics, and we are tremendously proud to have them wear the maple leaf in Naples, Italy," said Lisette Johnson-Stapley, Chief Sport Officer at U SPORTS.  "As the Olympics of University Sport, the FISU Games are an excellent opportunity for all of our student-athletes to compete against fellow world-class talent, as they set their sights on gold."

To support Team Canada through the Be a Game Changer RallyMe fundraising campaign click here.

Follow Team Canada on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @USPORTSIntl and use #uCAN.

2019 FISU SUMMER UNIVERSIADE TEAM CANADA DELEGATION

BY THE NUMBERS

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Head Coach: Michèle Bélanger, Toronto

Team Leader: Carrie Watts, UBC

Assistant Coach: Theresa Burns, McMaster