Amihere Embraces Opportunity to Play on the Big Stage at Olympics

As part of South Carolina’s women’s basketball team that went to the NCAA Final Four this year and was ranked No. 1 in the nation at the end of the previous year prior to the COVID-19 shutdown, Laeticia Amihere is familiar with playing on a big stage. Now, the rising redshirt junior forward from Mississauga, Ontario, will play on the world’s biggest stage as a member of Team Canada at the Olympic Games in Tokyo later this month.

“It’s been a blessing,” Amihere said. “When you go to this type of level, it’s something you prepare for a four-year cycle. I’ve been preparing since I was in high school. It means a great deal to me. Hopefully, it will help me out and translate when I get back to my team (at South Carolina).

“I’m just excited to compete against the best players in the world. We have a very special group this year. We’ve really brought a group together that is very athletic. It kind of looks different from past years. I’m excited to be able to broadcast that and show that women’s basketball in Canada is on the rise.”

Amihere’s star continues to rise at the collegiate at international level. She played all 31 games for the Gamecocks last year and was named to the Hemisfair Region All-Tournament team in the NCAA Tournament after averaging 10.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in the postseason. More recently, she helped her Canadian team to a fourth-place finish at the 2021 FIBA Women’s Americup in Puerto Rico where she led the team with 13.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.

“It’s a great learning experience, for sure,” Amihere said of her international experience. “Not only on the court, but off the court. When you’re surrounded by past WNBA players and pro level players, you learn so much and pick their brain. It’s a great blessing to be surrounded by players of that magnitude.

“It’s been very different, especially playing with a lot older players. I think their IQ level of the game is a lot different. It’s not necessarily just about the speed and their athleticism, but it’s really about their basketball IQ and how they move the ball. A couple of teams have been together for more than 10 years. When they’re on the court, you see how they gel together. You have to be very focused during those games.”

“Everything we do is to get on the podium.”

Amihere noted that playing in the SEC has helped her adapt to the international game and vice versa.

“Playing in the SEC has definitely prepared me for this Olympic experience,” Amihere said. “It’s the most physical conference out there, and you’re really able to go out there and play against the best ‘bigs’ in the world. That’s really helped me.

“Canada prides itself on relentlessness. Just being someone who is a go-getter and puts passion in every game, and passion in every play; that’s something I pride myself on.”

Canada will compete in Group A at the Olympics along with South Korea, Spain, and Serbia. Amihere could face a familiar foe after the group stage as South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley will be leading the team from the United States, which also has former Gamecock A’ja Wilson on the roster.

“It would be huge to play against Team USA,” Amihere said. “Not only Coach Staley, but those are the best players in the world. They’re WNBA All-Stars, one through twelve!”

While she can’t wait to hit the hardwood, Amihere is also looking forward to enjoying as much of the Olympic experience as possible.

“I’m just excited to be inside the (Olympic) Village,” Amihere said. “I’ve heard so many great things about what the Olympic Village looks like. I feel like everybody is a celebrity. I love watching track. I love watching the gymnasts as well. Hopefully, we’ll be able to see them in-person.”

She also knows that this is a business trip, and she hopes to help elevate Team Canada by helping her team win an Olympic medal.

“It would be huge. We’ve been working on that for years. We have a motto called ‘On the Podium,’ and that translates to everything we do, not only on the court, but off the court. Everything we do is to get on the podium and make it to that level.”

The Tokyo Olympic Games get started on Fri., July 23 with women’s basketball games starting on July 25.