RELATED:
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
NEW Bendigo Spirit import Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe has been named in Canada's Olympic team for the Rio Olympic Games.
The 24-year-old's selection was confirmed this week, days after she played in a friendly against Team USA in Connecticut last Saturday.
Team Canada's Olympic campaign tips-off against China on Sunday morning (3.15am Australian eastern standard time).
Raincock-Ekunwe is expected to travel to Bendigo at the completion of her Olympic commitments, ahead of the start of the WNBL season in October.
The first-time Olympian said she was honoured to be representing Canada, which enters the games with high hopes after it won gold medals at the 2015 Pan American Games and FIBA Americas in Edmonton, where they locked up their Olympic berth last year.
The Canadians finished fourth at the London Olympics in 2012.
In an interview with Scorers First Sports Management, Raincock-Ekunwe believed her Olympic experience would undoubtedly aid her during her stint with the Spirit, under second year coach Simon Pritchard.
"With the national team I am receiving top class coaching and playing against very strong competition in both practice and games," she said.
"I think this will be very beneficial in terms of my preparation for the upcoming season in Bendigo.
"The Australian league is quite strong, but I think after this summer with the national team I will be ready to make the transition to the WNBL."
During a stellar college career in Canada, the forward-centre was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference player of the year and All-America First Team in 2013, after averaging 16.8 points and 12.4 rebounds in her senior year at British Colombia-based Simon Fraser University.
Pritchard previously declared Raincock-Ekunwe an exciting signing for the Spirit.
“She has amazing speed on the drive and played as a centre last season, out-muscling taller players on a regular basis,” he said.
“She jumps out of the ring and gets rebounds she shouldn’t get her hands on.
“She has three-point range and is also able to defend on the perimeter. We are excited about having her on board.”