Danielle DuPlessis
Biography
Danielle DuPlessis got started in wheelchair basketball in 2017 and quickly rose to the national team level. She was first introduced to the sport when Dave Durepos, a Paralympic gold medalist in wheelchair basketball, came for a presentation in her elementary school. During university, she had sustained too many injuries to continue with stand up sports and thought about picking up wheelchair basketball.
She reached out to Sabrina Pettinicchi (Dave’s wife, also a Paralympian) to get started in the sport. With ParaSport New Brunswick helping as well, DuPlessis started playing in the Maritime Wheelchair Basketball league. Three months later, she joined her first Team Canada identification camp.
“I love the physical and mental challenge of wheelchair basketball,” DuPlessis said. “It is so fun to be able to channel my energy and focus into learning a new sport.”
After a year in the Maritime league, DuPlessis moved to Toronto to participate in the National Academy and play for the Toronto Rollin Raptors Division II team in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association during the 2018-19 season.
“The opportunity to represent Canada means so much to me because I am proud to have come back from my injuries to compete at the highest level,” DuPlessis said. “I am super excited to wear the maple leaf while playing a sport that I love with all my teammates.”
Outside of basketball, DuPlessis said she enjoys reading, camping and biking. She graduated with distinction in a Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Science at Mount Allison and is pursuing a master’s degree in Rehabilitation and Neuroscience.
Follow Danielle on Instagram @daniduplessis.
Interesting Facts
- She lived in Banff National Park for a summer
- She “can knit a mean pair of socks”
- She has a pet goldendoodle named Lily
Awards / Highlights
- Rookie of the year, top scoring female and First-Team All-Star in Maritime Wheelchair Basketball League (2018)
Competitive Experience
| Level | Team | Location | Year(s) |
| International | Canada (SWNT) | Canada | 2019- |
| Club | Toronto Rollin’ Raptors II | Canada | 2018- |
| Club | New Brunswick | Canada | 2017- |
Career Notes
2021: 5th place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics
2019: 1st place at 2019 Lima Parapan American Games (Team Canada)… 1st place at the 2e open feminin handibasket international (Team Canada)… 1st place at the Nations Cup (Team Canada)… 1st place at the 2019 NWBA Division II Finals with the Toronto Rollin Raptors in Cleveland, Ohio… 1st place at the 2019 CWBL National Championship (Tier 2)…