BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – Wednesday night marked the first of three games between the U.S. Women’s National Team and Canada at the Lakeshore Foundation, an official US Olympic and Paralympic Training Site. The teams are playing each other in final preparation for the upcoming IWBF America’s Qualifier in Cali, Colombia, August 21-31. Both teams are utilizing Lakeshore Foundations’ gyms for training and competitions, which includes three competitive opportunities as well as training times for both squads.

In the first night of competition, Team USA fell 58-46, and performed well on defense holding the Canadians to only one shooter to double figures on the night – Arrin Young who scored 22 points.

Leading the U.S. Women’s National Team was Rio Paralympic gold medalist Abby Dunkin of New Braunfels, Texas, with 19 points and 9 rebounds to open the first of three days of competition. Also finding the bottom of the net with double digits was Lindsay Zurbrugg of Portland, Oregon, who was almost perfect from the floor shooting 6 of 7 for 13 points in the game.

Rio Paralympic gold medalists Desi Miller of Monroe, Washington, and Vanessa Erskine of Kearney, Missouri, are back for another season of international play. The rest of the U.S. Women’s National Team are rookies.

In the second and third quarter, USA had a slight lead as they scored 15-11 and 16-15, respectively. It was in the final quarter that really decided the game as Canada shut down Team USA’s attack, outscoring them 15-2.

To keep up with competition tune in the next two evenings for the live stream on the NWBA Facebook page. Game two is scheduled for Thursday, August 3 at 9 a.m. Central, followed by the final game on Friday, August 4 at 7 p.m. Central.

U.S. Women’s Head Coach and NWBA hall of famer Trooper Johnson, San Lorenzo, California, is leading his team and is excited for the next couple of days of Friendly Competition in Birmingham. Joining Johnson, a 15-time U.S. Men’s National Team member and two-time Paralympic medalist, is assistant coaches Amy Spangler of Madison, Wisconsin, and Adam Kramer of Northport, Alabama. Athletic Trainer Karla Wessels of Lexington, Kentucky, and Team Leader Kearstin Gehlhausen of Denver, Colorado, also return for a second term.