By Josh Bell
After a huge summer for the Canadian senior women’s basketball team, Courtnay Pilypaitis was back in Ottawa to be honoured as female athlete of the year at the Jan. 30 Ottawa Sports Awards dinner.
The St. Peter Catholic High School grad led Canada with 21 points in a 71-63 must-win game over Japan at the last-chance 2012 Olympic qualifier, granting Canada its first Games appearance in 12 years. Pilypaitis was named team MVP at the tournament and carried the momentum into London, where the Canadians advanced to the playoff round and finished fifth.
Pilypaitis picked up her award from four-time Olympic medalist Kristina Groves, a six-time winner of the city’s top female athlete prize whose name is now attached to the trophy.
“Growing up I heard her name a lot,” Pilypaitis notes. “She was a great role model and to get athlete of the year from her is just icing on the cake.”
Pilypaitis is currently an assistant coach at her alma mater, the University of Vermont, during Team Canada’s off-season. The long break with no games is a difficult transition, but she’s taking it in stride.
“I’m able to practice with the girls so I can get some basketball movements in,” explains the 24-year-old. “The coaching staff there has been really great in allowing me to take a lunch hour here and there and work out. They’re really supportive of my basketball career.”
Pilypaitis expects to get back together with Team Canada in May for her sixth year with the squad, although details of the program are uncertain at the moment since they currently do not have a head coach.
“I’m looking to take it year by year,” Pilypaitis says in regards to what’s next for her. “I’ll see how this year goes with no playing and just training. I’m going to see where it takes me.”
Visit ottawasportsawards.ca for more coverage of the Ottawa Sports Awards.