After nearly three decades of dedicated service, Denise Dignard, Canada’s general manager and high-performance director for women’s basketball, has stepped down. Dignard’s retirement marks the end of an era and signals a fresh chapter for Canada’s national women’s basketball program, which has struggled to break through in recent Olympics. Following another disappointing Olympic run in Paris, where the team fell in the preliminary rounds, Dignard joins head coach Victor Lapeña and captain Natalie Achonwa in leaving the program.
Dignard, now 63, has overseen remarkable consistency in Canada’s participation on the world stage, making her tenure one of resilience and growth. “We’ve made it this far, and now it’s time for others to take on the Olympic dream, pushing us closer to the podium,” she said. Canada is one of only five nations to have competed in every Olympic Games and World Cup over the past 12 years, but unlike powerhouses like the U.S., China, Australia, and France, it has yet to achieve podium success.
The Port-Cartier, Quebec, native expressed optimism for the future but underscored the importance of international exposure for Canada’s players to match the intensity of their global competition. “Every day, those on the national team must dedicate themselves to honing their craft, focusing on the skills needed to face the best internationally,” she said.
Lapeña, the Spanish coach who left professional club duties to dedicate himself to Canada, delivered a notable fourth-place finish in the 2022 World Cup. Still, the synergy he sought with the team never fully materialized. Dignard noted that developing Canadian coaching talent should be a priority going forward.
Canada’s shift toward a younger roster became evident in Paris, where rising stars Syla Swords and Cassandre Prosper saw significant minutes alongside WNBA rookies Aaliyah Edwards and Laeticia Amihere. Dignard commended Bridget Carleton, who has emerged as one of Canada’s top players, fresh off a pivotal WNBA Finals appearance with the Minnesota Lynx. “The bond in Minnesota, their chemistry, and Bridget’s role within it is thrilling to see,” Dignard said, pointing to Carleton’s success as an inspiration for Canada’s young talents.
Dignard’s own basketball journey began as a teenager after meeting a member of the 1976 Olympic team. Inspired by the encounter, she would later don Canada’s jersey herself, eventually winning bronze in the 1979 World Championships. Returning to the sport in a leadership role in 1998, she spearheaded initiatives that would provide Canada’s female athletes opportunities that had been sparse when she began.
Reflecting on her legacy, Dignard said that her role often felt like a “Sisyphean task,” as she and head coach Bev Smith navigated the uphill battle for resources to elevate Canada’s women’s basketball program. Now, she hands over the reins to a new generation.
“Denise Dignard has been foundational in growing Canada’s basketball program,” said Michael Bartlett, president and CEO of Canada Basketball. “Her dedication to developing players, coaches, and the overall vision of women’s basketball in Canada is unmatched.”
As she looks ahead, Dignard hinted at continued advocacy for a professional women’s league in Canada. With the arrival of leagues like the Professional Women’s Hockey League and potential for a Northern Super League, she believes a Canadian women’s basketball league could finally become a reality. “A single Toronto WNBA team is a start, but more teams across Canada could profoundly impact the growth of our national program,” she argued, noting the power of community-backed teams across Europe and Asia.
With Dignard moving to a new role as a spectator, the challenge of lifting Canada’s women’s basketball to Olympic heights now rests with the rising stars she helped nurture.
