In Edmonton, hockey culture dominates every other sport. During playoff season the city waves its orange and blue flags, and the excitement of potential triumph hangs in the air like a fog. It can be easy amidst the haze to forget that other sports exist here — and that their teams thrive worldwide.
But a different kind of buzz (or should I say bounce) will soon echo through the city. Hoop City, a basketball festival that features the men’s and women’s teams, qualifying tournaments, World Tour events and entertainment breaks like dunk competitions, is stopping at the Ice Palace in West Edmonton Mall from July 31 to August 3.
The festival includes the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 3×3 World Tour, an event that brings with it two of Edmonton’s, and Canada’s, most accomplished basketball players — twin sisters and Olympic athletes Katherine and Michelle Plouffe.
The Plouffe sisters started their basketball journey in elementary school with a great coach, who taught them the importance of teamwork, being a leader to others and working hard. They played during high school, and even for Team Alberta during that time. After graduation, the sisters went to separate schools in the United States: Michelle played at the University of Utah and Katherine at Marquette University. Neither had planned on going pro, each thinking it was a pipe dream. But after playing on their college teams, and being persuaded by their coaches, they realized it was possible. “It wasn’t until university that I grasped that this was actually a very realistic option,” says Michelle.
After graduation, their basketball careers flourished. They were part of the Canada women’s national basketball team and both played overseas. But in 2018 they felt it was time for something new.
Enter 3×3 basketball — a faster, grittier, half-court version of the traditional 5-on-5 game, only with (you guessed it) three players per team. Though 3×3 has been played casually in neighbourhood courts and streets for years, it wasn’t officially recognized by FIBA until 2010, says Paul Sir, founder of the 3×3 Basketball Association.
In 2019, after watching Steve Sir (Paul’s son) play the game, Michelle and Katherine formed their own 3×3 team with their teammate Paige Crozon. This formation transformed into what is now the first official Canada women’s national 3×3 basketball team.
“We decided, why don’t we make a team for Canada and try to qualify for the 2020 Olympics?” recalls Michelle. “So that was kind of our pie-in-the-sky dream when we started.”
Though they did not qualify for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, they stayed committed. For the Plouffes, while the losses can be hard to overcome, it’s how they continue to learn, and do better for next time. And it works. Since that dreaded summer olympics, the team has earned silver at the 2022 FIBA 3×3 World Cup in Belgium, placed fourth at the 2024 Olympics in Paris and recently won bronze at the 2025 FIBA 3×3 World Cup in Mongolia.
All the while, Michelle and Katherine have been deepening their relationship on and off the court.
“We get to work closely in this dynamic where we share so many experiences of triumph, but also disappointment, and everything in between,” says Michelle. “It’s been amazing getting to watch each other grow.”
