KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s women’s basketball team is set to make a strong showing at the Caribbean Women’s Basketball Championship (CBC) in Guyana from November 12 to 16, according to head coach Oneil Brown, even after their training camp was disrupted by Hurricane Melissa.
The JamRockerz will compete against Suriname, The Bahamas, the US Virgin Islands, and host nation Guyana, vying for one of three qualifying spots for the 2026 CentroBasket Women’s Championships.
Back on track after the storm
Brown, who oversaw a 22-player training camp prior to the championship, acknowledged the challenges posed by the hurricane but insisted the team is now refocused and in high spirits.
“I know we are gonna do well,” Brown said.
“Before Melissa, we were flowing the right way on the court and off the court; things were looking good. After the hurricane, the first thing was to get the girls back in the right mental state of mind to play basketball. We are in a good spirit now, and we’re going to do well.”
Twenty of the camp players hail from Jamaica’s Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL), with two overseas-based players, including a naturalized player. Brown praised the WNBL as a strong foundation for the national team, particularly in light of US collegiate players being unavailable due to scheduling conflicts.
“With availability, no college is going to let go of all of those players to come and represent the national team,” Brown said. “So the core must come from Jamaica, and the more we develop them, the more we’ll find avenues and leagues to play in.”
Aiming to reclaim glory
Jamaica’s women lifted the CBC title in 2014 when it was hosted in the US Virgin Islands. However, the team struggled in the previous tournament, finishing at the bottom of the table without a win — a situation Brown attributes partly to the COVID-19 pandemic and limited international competition.
“All the countries have not played in a while, and all the countries, apart from US Virgin Island — as US Virgin Island is from the US, so they can use US-based players,” Brown explained. “Whatever affects us will affect Suriname, will affect Bahamas, and will affect Guyana. But we have to understand that it does not affect US Virgin Islands. We just have to go in there and get better in the tournament.”
Brown stressed that development and tournament experience are as important as immediate results, emphasizing that the team will focus on growth and performance under pressure.
Kickoff against Suriname
Jamaica will begin their campaign against Suriname on November 12 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, looking to establish momentum and build confidence as they seek one of the three qualifying spots for the CentroBasket Women’s Championships.
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