The Dartmouth, N.S. native is a member of the Women’s U25 team
Kayla MacKinnon’s career in wheelchair basketball started when she met coach Cher Smith. Born with cerebral palsy, MacKinnon was looking to be more active when it was recommended she try archery.
“I met Cher there, and she was like, ‘I don’t think this sport is for you, but I think that you should come join wheelchair basketball,’” MacKinnon recalled. “That’s kind of how I got started.”
The Dartmouth, N.S. native also tried wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis but decided to stick to wheelchair basketball.
Wheelchair basketball allows MacKinnon to share sport with her twin sister Julia, though Kayla – a half hour older – admits the two can get too competitive on the court.
“We’re not really allowed to be on the same team in scrimmages because we bicker too much,” she joked.
In February, the sisters were part of Team NL at the 2023 Canada Winter Games – their second Games after suiting up in Red Deer in 2019.
“That was a great experience,” MacKinnon explained. “It was a new group, and I was older, so I knew more about the sport, and it was a better experience. I was one of the older athletes on the team, and I was able to give some mentoring tips to other athletes. It was a wonderful experience. It truly was.”
Team NL had three sets of siblings in Charlottetown, while coach Raeleen Baggs and her son Gavin were also part of the contingent, providing a unique team dynamic.
“That was interesting. Everyone got along fairly well, though, so there weren’t too many sibling tiffs,” MacKinnon said. “I think it was great for everyone to have a sibling there. I think it was a good support system because we were away from home for more than a week. Sometimes people aren’t used to that, so it was great to have that support system there.”
The 20-year-old then suited up with a mixed team of athletes at the April CWBL Women’s National Championship. MacKinnon credits the experience in Montreal for putting her on the radar for the Women’s National Under-25 team.
“My season highlight would probably be Women’s Nationals,” she said. “It was my first time playing with only women, and it kind of snowballed this effect of me making the U25 team for Thailand, so that’s probably my highlight.”
Before formally making the team, MacKinnon attended the Women’s U25 camp in Richmond, B.C. The camp provided insight into the competition headed to the U25 Worlds as Canada hosted Japan for a series of exhibition games.
“It was great to work with Japan and play against them,” said MacKinnon. It gives us a little bit of a preview of what the competition will be like in Thailand. It was also great to learn some new workout strategies and to get to know my teammates better.”
Last month, MacKinnon was officially named to Canada’s U25 roster – one of 12 athletes headed to Bangkok for the World Championship.
MacKinnon will represent her country and her province of Nova Scotia as the only athlete from the region named to the team.
“That is cool. I can’t believe I’m the only one from here going,” she said. “Desiree Isaac-Pictou and I are the only ones from the Maritimes – I think that’s a cool opportunity to represent this part of the country.
“I’m excited. I’m feeling honoured to be given that chance to represent Canada. We have a great group of ladies heading over – it will be a great experience.”
Off the court, MacKinnon is a Dalhousie University student majoring in Health Promotion with a minor in Disability Management with the goal of working in an accessibility role when she graduates.