August 17^th was a golden day for a pair of Cougars women's basketball players.

Jade Belmore and Izzi Fust won separate gold medals in international competitions on the same day nearly 8000 kilometres apart.

Belmore had been named to the 3x3 basketball team for the Junior Pan American Games which were held in Asuncion, Paraguay from the 9^th to the 23^rd of August.

Belmore has represented Canada in numerous 3x3 competitions, but it was her first time visiting South America.

"It was very different," said Belmore. "We were with all of the other Canadian athletes in our hotel, which made things easier."

Along with Belmore, the team was also comprised of Marah Dykstr (Montana St.), Mackenzie Smith (St. Joseph's) and Gage Grassick, a member of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

Belmore had previously been teammates with Grassick for Team Saskatchewan, but the provincial rivalry was certainly on her mind.

"It was tough for me to get over that, but once you get to know her as a person, it's so easy to forget about it," said Belmore.

The team went 1-1 in group play, before defeating Costa Rica, Brazil, and finally Mexico to claim gold.

"It's such an honor and I feel very proud to represent Saskatchewan and wear the maple leaf on my chest," said Belmore.

Meanwhile, in Toronto, Fust had been selected to compete for Team Canada at the annual Global Jam, a U23 tournament between four nations. This year Canada, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and the USA (represented by the Texas Longhorns women's team) competed.

For Fust, it was her first time representing her country.

"It was really special," said Fust. "My family got to come, and I saw some of my friends there."

She attended an open tryout and was told that only a few USPORTS players were going to be selected. Ultimately, three of them made the team.

"It was great to know that other people were in the same position that I was," said Fust.

For Fust, who averaged 29.0 minutes per game last season, it was an opportunity to learn from some very accomplished players.

"It was a different role, but it was nice to have other people to rely on," said Fust.

In the gold medal match, they got another crack at the Texas Longhorns, who they had lost to earlier in the tournament. The Longhorns were a number one seed in March Madness last year.
Canada ultimately came out on top 72-65.

Fust noted that the biggest difference was the level of competition that the players brought, both on and off the court.

"There wasn't something that they weren't competing in," said Fust.

That competitiveness is something that Fust and Belmore look to bring to the Cougars, with their 2025-26 campaign set to start at home vs Manitoba on Oct. 31^st.