The Canadian women’s basketball team secured their spot in the Olympic Games for the fourth consecutive time back in February.  This success not only underscores the team’s consistency and skill but also highlights their unwavering determination to compete at the highest level on the global stage. But who is the architect behind this team?

“We’re excited about the team we’ve built to proudly represent Canada this summer in Paris.” Canada National Team Head Coach Victor Lapeña beamed with pride after he announced the roster for the upcoming Paris Olympics. As the roar of the crowd culminates at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Lapeña’s statement reflected his confidence as well as the collective spirit of the nation. Let’s take a closer look at the Spanish coach’s trajectory which led him to the position of Canada National Team Head Coach.

The arrival of Spanish maestro: Victor Lapeña

In early 2022, Canada Basketball appointed Spaniard Victor Lapeña as the new head coach of its senior women’s team. The multi-year contract which extended through the 2024 Paris Olympics made Lapeña the first man to coach the senior women’s team since Peter Ennis in the mid-1990s and the first non-Canadian to hold the position. 

Tasked with leading Canada through the FIBA World Cup qualifiers in Japan in 2022, his long-term goal was to elevate the Canadian women’s team to Olympic success. With the team’s recent qualification for the Paris Olympics, Lapeña has demonstrated that he is steering them in the right direction.

Lapeña’s impressive resume includes serving as an assistant coach with the Spanish national team and as the head coach of the esteemed Turkish club Fenerbahçe. His tenure at Fenerbahçe, starting in 2019, was marked by significant achievements, including winning the EuroLeague Women Coach of the Year award, two domestic titles, the Turkish Women’s Basketball Presidential Cup, and the Turkish Cup. 

His extensive experience and proven track record make him a valuable asset to the Canadian women’s basketball program. Let’s see how much impact he has brought to the Canadian Team.

Victor Lapeña: Paving the Path to Glory

Canada Basketball recently extended Victor Lapeña’s contract, ensuring he will lead the national women’s team through the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup. Since taking charge in 2022, Lapeña has guided the team to a commendable 17-7 record (.708). 

His tenure has been marked by significant achievements, including an undefeated 3-0 run at a pre-qualifying tournament in Medellin, Colombia, which paved the way for their Paris Olympics qualification. 

Under Lapeña’s leadership, Canada also secured a bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup and achieved their best World Cup finish since 1986 by placing fourth in 2022. These successes underscore Lapeña’s exceptional coaching abilities, steering the team through a challenging qualifying phase and securing their coveted spot at the Paris Olympics.

As the Canadian women’s basketball team prepares to take on the world in Paris, all eyes will be on Victor Lapeña to see if his strategic brilliance can propel them to new heights on the Olympic stage.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.