(OTTAWA, ONT.) — Wheelchair Basketball Canada announced today that Michèle Sung has been named Head Coach of the Senior Women’s National Team (SWNT).

Sung will lead the SWNT as they prepare for the 2024 Women’s IWBF Repechage Tournament (April 17-20), the last–chance qualifier for the 2024 Paralympic Games.

The Milgrove, Ont. native joins WBC after spending the last 10 years as head coach of the University of Manitoba women’s basketball team. Sung previously served as an assistant coach with the SWNT from 2012-14, helping Canada win a gold medal at the 2014 Women’s World Championship in Toronto.

“I am happy to welcome Michèle back to the WBC family as head coach of the SWNT,” said Wheelchair Basketball Canada CEO Wendy Gittens. “With over 13 years of coaching experience, Michèle brings a deep understanding of the game to the women’s program. Having worked with our SWNT previously, Michèle understands the technical needs and requirements of wheelchair basketball athletes. WBC remains committed to developing a world-leading women’s program, and we are confident in Michèle’s ability to coach our athletes to success on the court.”

Sung just completed her 10th season as head coach of the University of Manitoba Bisons, where she also spent five seasons as an athlete while completing her Bachelor of Kinesiology degree. As head coach of the women’s team, Sung helped the Bisons snap a 10-year playoff drought in 2020 and led the team to a first-round playoff victory in 2022.

“Michèle is an experienced coach with proven success on the court,” said Wheelchair Basketball Canada High Performance Director Jeff Dunbrack. “Michèle is a strong communicator and has a history of creating a winning culture, making her an invaluable asset to our Senior Women’s National Team.”

As an athlete, Sung was an Academic All-Canadian during her freshman season and captain of the Bisons for three years. She also spent a season with the ZKK Partizan Basketball Club in Belgrade, Serbia, before returning to the University of Manitoba to continue her second degree in engineering.

One of Sung’s first coaching opportunities was when she served as an apprentice coach for two years with the Manitoba U17 female provincial team. 

Sung originally joined the Bisons as an assistant coach in 2011.

About Wheelchair Basketball Canada

Wheelchair Basketball Canada is the national sports governing body responsible for the organization of the sport in Canada. It is a non-profit, charitable organization committed to excellence in developing, supporting, and promoting wheelchair basketball programs and services from grassroots to high performance for all Canadians. Wheelchair basketball is a fast-paced, hard-hitting, competitive sport in which Canada is held in high esteem worldwide for winning a combined six gold, one silver, and one bronze medal in the last seven Paralympic Games. For more information, please visit wheelchairbasketball.ca.

Follow WBC on social media at: Facebook: /wheelchairbasketballcanada 
Instagram: @wheelchairbasketballcanada X: @WCBballCanada

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For more information, please contact:

Dhiren Mahiban
Communications & Digital Media Manager
Wheelchair Basketball Canada
C: 416-574-6682
dmahiban@wheelchairbasketball.ca