Canada Basketball’s Avery Howell carves unique path for herself with USC Trojans
Howell’s USC Trojans will play the UCLA Bruins Saturday in a game that will decide who wins the Big 10 Conference season.
Canadian Basketball stars are making headlines — whether it’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with the OKC Thunder, Bridget Carleton playing with the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Finals, or Zach Edey playing his rookie season in Memphis. As Canada looks to the next generation of hoopers, one of our own is carving her path down in Los Angeles, California.
Avery Howell is one of USC’s seven freshmen players this season, a team which many think put together the best recruitment nation-wide this season. Currently no.4 in the AP’s weekly top-25 poll, USC is 25-2 on the season, and will play their biggest game of the season Saturday as they fight no.2 UCLA for the Big 10 regular season championship.
The freshman is no stranger to high-level basketball, even before joining one of the top programs in women’s college basketball. Howell was raised in Boise, Idaho, though her mother Rosie Howell was born and raised in the small town of Salmo, British Columbia. After moving to the USA to play basketball for Lewis-Clark State College, Rosie met Brian, and they settled in Boise.
Avery has fond memories of seeing her grandparents — who still live in Salmo today — and is a dual citizen of Canada and the USA. So when she started talking to college recruitment scouts, they got her in touch with Canada Basketball.
“I think the first [Canada Basketball] camp that I went to was, I want to say my junior year. I just went to a random age group camp just to get on their radar, so they could see me play. Then they had come watch a couple of club tournaments,” Howell said. “I got invited to play with the U18 Canadian team, and I went to a camp and the senior coach [Victor LaPena] was there. That’s how I got tied with the Olympic roster.”
Howell went on to train with the Senior National Team in the summer of 2024, before the team left to the Paris Olympics. Though she did not end up making the roster for the Olympic Games, she got to travel and play a few exhibition games with the program.
“I think my favourite moment would probably just be like travelling to all these different places for basketball. Playing basketball overseas at that high of a level, even though I didn’t go to the Olympics with the team, but being at all games overseas in Europe and Spain, Belgium, Toronto, I just think that that was a super cool experience.”
She also got to train with every level of basketball player before even setting foot on her college campus. Practicing with other college players, WNBA players, professional players not only helped her level up her own game, but made her see what was possible for herself. Howell soaked in the leadership from players like Kia Nurse, Sami Hill, and Natalie Achonwa.
“I didn’t get to spend a ton of time with [Kia Nurse], since the WNBA players came a bit later,” Howell remembers, “but she’s definitely a super great leader.”
One relationship Howell especially cherishes is the one she built with fellow freshman, Syla Swords. Swords ended up going to the Olympics with the Canadian team, and now plays basketball at the University of Michigan.
“Just having [Swords], who had been around the team longer than I had, to help me and talk to was pretty cool.” Howell says of her teammate, now Big 10 conference opponent. “We are both very serious when we get on the court,” Howell says of their relationship, “she’s super easy to talk to, super fun off the court, but also knows when it’s time to work hard.”
The experience playing against professional players all over the world last summer can only be helpful as the freshman heads into the biggest game of her young career so far. USC was able to beat UCLA two weeks ago, in a game where sophomore Juju Watkins scored 38 points, 11 rebounds, 8 blocks, 5 assists and 1 steal on home court. The win broke UCLA’s undefeated streak and cost them their no.1 ranking, but now the tables are turned. Saturday’s game is at UCLA’s home arena, and the no.1 seed in the Big 10 Tournament is on the line. Whoever wins this game, wins the entire conference.
“[Juju Watkins] sets a standard,” Howell says of her teammate, “Every time she is on the floor, there is a standard of expectation — what we should all be producing.”
Howell says she has always had a certain standard of greatness in her own life, and the general standard they all set for each other is why this USC Trojans team is so close. Yet, they still know how to bring the fun into the days, which can be filled with pressure for a team with such high expectations.
While Howell comes off the bench for USC at the moment, her stats are promising. Her biggest game was an 18 point performance against Purdue, where she made four-three point shots, shooting 57.1% from distance. Her season field goal percentage sits at 41.9% while her 3-point percentage is 39.2%. She is efficient on the court, can shoot, and has no problem turning it on no matter how many minutes she gets in a game.
She attributes that to her coach, Lindsay Gottlieb, saying one of the biggest things that played into her decision to come to USC was because she wanted a “player’s coach.”
When it comes to her future in the sport, Howell is incredibly direct with her goals. “I want to win a National Championship,” she says confidently of her immediate future. Beyond that, Howell wants to “ride out basketball as long as I can.” That includes the WNBA and playing professionally.
As for representing Canada, Howell is excited about the future of the program. “I want to go to the Olympics, compete for a spot on that podium.” A huge possibility for sure, given the upcoming talent pool Howell finds herself in that also includes players like Swords, Aaliyah Edwards, Toby Fournier, Laeticia Amihere and many more.
There’s only going to be more too, as Canada Basketball continues to develop stars that are taking over the NCAA, WNBA and more. Plus, with the Toronto Tempo entering the WNBA in 2026, only more kids will be inspired to pick up a basketball.
“I would tell them to keep the main thing, the main thing,” Howell says her advice to young Canadians in the sport would be, “Consistently be in the gym, work hard, and it will pay off.”
For now, the “main thing” for Howell and USC this weekend will be another big performance against UCLA. Round two of “The Battle of LA” is set to be an exciting game for all involved, but it’s only a small step in the path to a National Championship for USC.
When it comes to exciting prospects in Canadian basketball, Avery Howell continues to represent — whether she’s wearing Canadian red or Trojan red.