Recently retired women’s college basketball coach could face Team USA in 2028 Olympics

Nell Fortner, who retired from Georgia Tech in April, will coach the senior women’s national team for Canada.

Nell Fortner isn’t done coaching just yet.

On Monday, Canada Basketball named the 66-year-old the head coach of its senior women’s national team, putting the recently retired Georgia Tech coach back on the sidelines for the near future.

This isn’t Fortner’s first foray into international basketball, of course. She was the head coach of Team USA in the 2000 Olympics and guided the Americans to a gold medal. In Four years coaching the U.S. — from 1997 through 2000 — she piled up a wildly impressive record of 101-14.

Fortner’s appointment means she could be coaching against the U.S. at the 2026 FIBA World Cup in Germany, or at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Regardless of what opponents are ahead for the Canadians, Fortner is thrilled by the challenge.

“I’ve followed the rise of this program for years and have great respect for the culture the organization and players are building,” Fortner said in a statement. “This is a special group with the talent, toughness and togetherness and they have the ability to achieve something great — I’m excited to get to work.”

Fortner’s retirement from Georgia Tech in early April was a surprise to many, considering she had just signed an extension through 2030 in February. At her retirement press conference, she lamented some of the changes that had happened in college sports in the six years she had been in Atlanta, called her retirement “bittersweet” but also said that she had “a lot of energy left.” Fortner guided the Yellow Jackets to three NCAA Tournament appearances — including one this past season — and an overall win-loss record of 110-75.

Before Fortner announced her retirement, five Yellow Jackets had entered the transfer portal, including ACC Sixth Player of the Year Dani Carnegie. After she announced her retirement, two more followed in three-year starters Kara Dunn and Tonie Morgan.

To succeed Fortner, Georgia Tech hired former Maryland assistant Karen Blair.

Fortner led Georgia Tech to just its second-ever Sweet 16 and began this past season with 15 consecutive wins, marking the best start in program history. Across her career, which included stops at Auburn and Purdue, she’s been named Coach of the Year in the ACC, SEC and Big Ten.

On the international level, Fortner won’t have to deal with NIL or the transfer portal. She can just coach basketball.

“What stood out with Nell was how naturally she aligned with the identity our athletes helped define — not just in terms of basketball experience, but in leadership, accountability and culture,” said Steve Baur, the general manager and vice president of Canada women’s basketball. “Her approach reflected the expectations set by the group and the direction we believe this team needs to go.”

Canada has never medaled at the Olympics and hasn’t medaled at a World Cup since 1986, though they came close in 2022, placing fourth.

The roster features lots of talent, from WNBA players like Bridget Carleton, Kia Nurse and Aaliyah Edwards, to rising college stars like Duke’s Toby Fournier, Villanova’s Jasmine Bascoe and BYU’s Delaney Gibb.

Fournier and Gibb starred on Canada’s U17 team at the 2022 World Cup that placed fourth. Gibb was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year this past season, while Fournier took home the same honors in the ACC.