Gliders and Rollers touch down in Ottawa

One fourteen-hour time difference later, and the green and gold has officially touched down in Ottawa. 

The Gliders and Rollers are putting the finishing touches on their preparations for the 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships. 

The Gliders wasted no time testing themselves against the best, taking on reigning world champions the Netherlands in their opening international practice hit out. The Aussies fell short but stayed on the Dutch team’s heels throughout. 

There will be no easing off tomorrow, with another heavyweight test against the USA awaiting the Gliders in their final practice game. 

The Rollers have taken the scenic route to Ottawa, arriving after almost a week of training and games at the University of Arizona. They will hit the court against Colombia tomorrow morning (local time) in their only practice game. 

THE TOURNAMENT 

The World Championships run from September 9–19, bringing 336 athletes from 28 teams to Canada’s capital. 

The Rollers have a proud history at the tournament, winning back-to-back world titles in 2010 and 2014 before adding bronze in 2018. 

After finishing seventh at the 2023 World Championships, Australia secured its return to the tournament by going undefeated and winning gold at last year’s Asia Oceania Zone Championships. 

The Rollers have continued to build since then, defeating top-ranked USA 77–68 to win the Toronto Invitational in July. 

The Gliders secured their place through the final qualification route after narrowly missing direct qualification at the Asia Oceania Zone Championships. 

With one final chance to reach Ottawa, they went back to the drawing board, headed to Madrid and put together a near-perfect repechage campaign to punch their ticket to the World Championships.  

THE GLIDERS 

Head Coach Jeremy Synot has backed the same 12 players who got the job done in Madrid. 

The will arrive with an extra spring in their step after Hannah Dodd, Georgia Munro-Cook, Taishar Ovens and Ebony Stevenson helped Australia win Commonwealth Games 3x3 bronze. 

The Gliders open against China before facing hosts Canada, Brazil, Great Britain and Spain. 

It is a tricky group, with every team chasing a place among the tournament’s powerhouses. Australia will need to finish inside the top four to move through to the quarterfinals. 

2026 IWBF World Championships

1. 44
   Lucinda Bueti
2. 10
   Laura Davoli
3. 6
   Hannah Dodd
4. 11
   Katelin Gunn
5. 23
   Sara Houston
6. 14
   Maryanne Latu
7. 22
   Isabel Martin
8. 12
   Shelley Matheson
9. 8
   Georgia Munro-Cook
10. 13
    Taishar Ovens
11. 24
    Ebony Stevenson
12. 4
    Sarah Vinci

THE ROLLERS 

Ten players return from the team that went undefeated and won last year’s Asia Oceania Zone Championships, giving the Rollers plenty of familiarity heading into Ottawa. 

Returning Paris Paralympians Eithen Leard and Samuel White complete the 12-player squad. 

Leard also arrives with some fresh gold, having joined Luke Pople and Tom O’Neill-Thorne in helping Australia claim the Commonwealth Games 3x3 title. 

Depth is one of Australia’s biggest strengths. The Rollers can switch players and line-ups without losing the fast, aggressive style they want to bring for all four quarters. 

They have been handed a dominant group alongside Argentina, Türkiye and Great Britain, so there will be no time for a slow start. 

All 16 men’s teams progress to the round of 16, but where the Rollers finish in their group will shape their path through the knockout rounds. 

2026 IWBF World Championships

1. 3
   Jaylen Brown
2. 8
   Jontee Brown
3. 6
   Steven Elliot
4. 18
   Phil Evans
5. 9
   Tristan Knowles
6. 5
   Bill Latham
7. 4
   Eithen Leard
8. 11
   Tom O'Neill-Thorne
9. 2
   Frank Pinder
10. 13
    Luke Pople
11. 23
    Jeremy Tyndall
12. 1
    Sam White

THE FIXTURES 

All dates and times are AEST.

HOW TO WATCH 

Every game of the World Championships will be streamed live on the official IWBF and Wheelchair Basketball Canada YouTube channels.