Canada ends up in fourth place at the AmeriCup following defeat to the U.S. in the bronze medal match

In a disappointing turn of events, Canada's basketball team has finished fourth at the FIBA Men's AmeriCup 2025, following a 85-9 loss to the United States in the bronze medal match.

The Canadians started the match strong, taking a five-point lead in the first quarter. However, their three-point shooting let them down, as they hit only 17.7% of their attempts from beyond the arc. In contrast, the U.S. did not fall behind Canada again after the first quarter.

Javonte Smart and Tyler Cavanaugh each scored a game-high 21 points for the United States, while Marcus Carr scored 16 points, had four rebounds, and seven assists for Canada. Mfiondu Kabengele also contributed with 16 points and seven rebounds.

Canada's head coach, Nathaniel Mitchell, expressed his disappointment at the result, stating, "We did not find a way to win despite not playing well." Despite the loss, Coach Mitchell was proud of the team's development throughout the tournament. "Every time we step out, we expect to win," he added.

This is Canada's second straight fourth-place finish at the FIBA Men's AmeriCup. Trae Bell-Haynes, the captain and lead guard of the 2025 AmeriCup squad, led the team through the tournament, where they went unbeaten until losing to Argentina in the semifinals.

Despite the disappointing result, Coach Mitchell remains optimistic about the future. He believes that the team's run in the tournament will help build a foundation for the future towards the 2028 Olympics in L.A. The Canadians hit 52% of their shots during the match, showing potential for future success.

This report was first published on August 31, 2025, by The Canadian Press.