The Burlington, Ont. native hopes to represent Canada at February’s Osaka Cup
Larissa McClellan was first introduced to wheelchair basketball in high school, but it wasn’t until the pandemic that she decided to pursue the sport more seriously.
The Burlington, Ont. native was watching Paralympic highlights online when she got hooked on the sport.
“I was binge-watching highlights of the different sports, and I got hooked on wheelchair basketball,” McClellan explained. “I told my mom that I thought that was something I could do. She said, ‘Then, figure it out, reach out.’ I ended up messaging Chris Chandler, and he got me into it.”
McClellan, who suffered complications from a rare kidney disease, credits Chandler for improving her game on the court.
“He’s probably one of the core people,” she said. “He’s always pushing me to try something that’s harder and to go to the next level. He sees it before I do, and now I’m starting to catch on to what he has going on in his head.”
As a first-year athlete, McClellan had the opportunity to test her skillset at the 2023 CWBL Women’s Nationals with Team Ontario where she played alongside Senior Women’s National Team members Puisand Lai and Tamara Steeves – an experience she calls her favourite memory playing the sport.
She also suited up for Team Ontario at the 2024 CWBL Women’s Nationals in both the 5-on-5 and 3-on-3 divisions.
“It’s exhilarating,” McClellan said of competing at Women’s Nationals. “The expectations are a lot higher, playing with the women, especially with Team Ontario. Because the expectation is higher, the reward is even higher.
“Playing with Tamara and Puisand has been amazing. They’re the nicest people. If you need anything or help, they’re always there and willing to help you out.”
As she prepares for the 2025 season, McClellan is working hard with coach Chandler, refining aspects of her game.
“Right now, we’re changing my shot a bit,” she explained. “The main goal is adjusting the shooting mechanics to make my shot consistent. My goal is to work on my hand speed and one-on-one defence.”
McClellan’s goals for this season include making Team Canada’s NextGen squad for the 2025 Osaka Cup in Japan.
Canada will compete against Australia, Thailand, and Japan in the four-team tournament from Feb. 13-16.
“The senior national team would be like the main goal at this point,” she said. “Osaka is definitely a good starting point.”
Off the court, McClellan, who also plays wheelchair tennis, is an avid crafter. Using her Cricut machine, McClellan designs everything from cards to sweaters.
The Burlington Viper briefly attended Mohawk College in Hamilton, where she studied pharmacy tech. Currently, McClellan is considering turning her crafting hobby into a graphic design career.