With her Olympic experience in the rearview mirror but still in her mind, Humboldt’s Paige Crozon’s keeps her boundless energy rolling on to the next FIBA challenge and her next mentoring duty. On Monday, August 19, Paige was back in her hometown hosting a basketball camp introducing a new generation to the sports she’s championed. 3x3 basketball has come on strong in the past few years, and its first ever Olympic appearance has galvanized the high-octane sport into viewers' minds.
It’s only logical to get kids out on the court to experience the excitement for themselves. Around 50 youngsters from the area converged on the Humboldt Public School gym for the excitement. Local coaches came in to assist with the drills, the scrimmages and the games, all centred around the rules of the 3x3 game.
Paige just wrapped up the Saskatoon stop on the FIBA Women’s 3x3 Challenge at the inaugural YXE Urban Games at Victoria Park. The team, fresh off their Olympic fourth place, put on commanding performances going undefeated into the final. That game was a rematch of their Edmonton Final rolling Dallas 3XBA under their wheels 21-7.
“I talked to Kerri Archibald a couple months ago about coming back to Humboldt following the games to do a camp and giving back. This community has given so much, and I’ve had so many wonderful coaches, volunteers and teachers who have supported me over the years. So, I wanted to come back to work with some of the youth and expose them to 3x3 because it is a new sport.”
It’s a sport that’s been catching on in the public consciousness since its days in downtown Saskatoon featuring Michael Linklater and the men’s 3x3 Saskatoon based squad. Its presence in the Olympics has multiplied that profile, and Crozon sees youth camps, like the one in Humboldt, as a vehicle to grow the game while giving youth a fast-paced new sport to engage them and keep them active.
“Similar to how indoor volleyball made the transition to beach, or full rugby has transformed to rugby sevens, this is just the next evolution of basketball. I’ve been playing for the past five years, and it does take some time to understand some of the differences.”
The fast turnarounds, the half court format, the shot clock and the shift from defense to offense by clearing the key zone are just some of the adaptations that captivated viewers new to the sport. Crozon’s presence as the outside sharpshooter was made clear at the Olympics and at the Saskatoon FIBA event. It’s the speed and the interest garnered in the sport by Linklater and the men’s side that provided the inertia for women’s play.
“FIBA’s 3x3 slogan is from the streets to the Olympics. My teammates and I watched Michael, Team Saskatoon, and Team Edmonton on the tour for a few years. So, we had those discussions, in 2017-2018, that if there was the opportunity to play for women, we wanted to chance to play and represent Canada when it was announced as an Olympic Sport.”
With additional exposure at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, Crozon says the prediction is that the sport will explode even further, given its accessible and low barrier to entry.
“You just need an outdoor hoop and some teammates, and you can play. It doesn’t matter if you are on the playground or on the Olympic stage, as long as you’re there with your teammates, it kind of has the same feeling.”
The energy provided by the courtside DJ and the interactivity with the fans are all part of the show.
“After the tournament in Saskatoon, we had a lineup of about a hundred fans come and take pictures with us. There’s a kind of intimacy with the athletes and the fans who are there. I think the urban sports environment provides such a fun atmosphere for viewers and for players.”
Needless to say, the Olympics put pressure on Crozon and here teammates, Katherine and Michelle Plouffe, and Kacie Bosch far beyond a friendly game on a street court. The Canadian’s had high hopes of medalling, ultimately walking away with a hard fought fourth place.
“It was disappointing to finish fourth because we were right there; we were literally one second away from winning the semi-final game. I can still feel the ball in my hands – but that’s the way sport goes.
So, we had a chance to regroup in Saskatoon. We have such a strong chemistry and camaraderie, and there was not the same emotional stress as in Paris. We played with so much joy to be back in Canada and playing in front of so many of my friends, family and people who have coached me and supported me my whole life, it was absolutely amazing for me. And my team loved it as well.”
Paige’s time back home with the young charges in the camp, surrounded by friends and family was by no means taken for granted. She admits to a time of processing and emotional healing following the Olympics, and there’s nothing like being on home soil to bolster the spirits, she maintains.
“I've just been given so much growing up in Humboldt and growing up in Saskatchewan. I’ve just had amazing role models and access to sport, and not all kids have that. So, I'm very grateful to come back and be able to share and reconnect and see people that I've known my whole life that have been along this journey with me. It’s been so incredible.
The road continues to the 3x3 World Finals slated for September 7-8 in Hangzhou, China.
Enjoy our full conversation with Paige Crozon.