Friday, July 2, 2021

BURNABY, B.C. – For the second time in her career, former Simon Fraser All-American Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe will represent Canada at the Olympic Games.

Raincock-Ekunwe was among the 12 players named to Canada’s Olympic women’s basketball team that will compete in Tokyo this month by Canada Basketball and the Canadian Olympic Committee. The roster was announced on June 29.

A four-year standout for Simon Fraser from 2009 to 2013 as the institution transitioned from NAIA membership to the GNAC and NCAA Division II, Raincock-Ekunye was named the 2013 GNAC Player of the Year and was a three-time First Team All-GNAC selection. As a senior, she was named First Team All-American by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and a Second Team All-American by Division II Bulletin after averaging 16.8 points and 12.4 rebounds per game.

Raincock-Ekunye ranks second on the GNAC career list with a .604 field goal percentage. She ranks third all-time with an average of 18 points per game and 1,039 total rebounds.

The Vernon, British Columbia native is one of six repeat Olympians to be named to Team Canada. During the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Raincock-Ekunye averaged 7.7 points and 22.5 minutes per game as Canada placed seventh in the tournament. Since then, Raincock-Ekunwe suited up for Canada at the 2018 FIBA World Cup, the 2019 FIBA AmeriCup and FIBA Olympic Prequalifying Tournament, where she was named the tournament’s MVP. She also helped Team Canada to a 3-0 record at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in February, which clinched Canada’s spot in the Games.

Raincock-Ekunwe’s professional career has included stops with teams in Switzerland, Germany, France, Australia and Russia as well as two stints with the New York Liberty of the WNBA (2017 and 2019).

The group phase of the Olympic women’s basketball tournament will begin on July 26. Team Canada will play one of the two games on the opening day, facing Serbia. Canada’s other group phase opponents include South Korea on July 29 and Spain on August 1.