VICTORIA — There are moments Syla Swords still gets a little star struck on the court.

In a matter of years, she has gone from doing school projects about her role models to playing alongside them on the Canadian women’s basketball team.

“I grew up watching Natalie Achonwa, Kayla Alexander on TV,” said the 18-year-old guard. “So I still remember the first time I walked in the gym with them. It was kind of crazy, scary, surreal almost. But now I’m getting more and more comfortable.”