Kiki White has come a long way in basketball over the past year.

Now, Kiki is going a long way for basketball.

Kiki and three of her Chatham-Kent Wildcats U-14 basketball teammates are going to Taiwan this summer to compete in the 2026 International Children’s Games.

Callie McMullin, Zuri Willder, Kate Regan and Kiki will be leaving in late July for Hualien, Taiwan, where the 3-on-3 basketball portion of the Games takes place Aug. 3-5.

“Excited,” the quiet Kiki said about looking forward to the trip.

“Exploring new places ... bonding with my teammates and getting to know them better ... new experiences ... meeting new friends,” Kiki said, about some of the things she’s looking forward to the most in her Southeast Asian adventure.

Kiki, 13, is graduating from Ridgetown District Grade 7-8 this week, where she enjoyed a remarkable athletic season wearing the Royals’ jersey.

She led the Royals to an undefeated season in the South Kent girls’ basketball league, where her 19 points led Ridgetown to a 27-11 championship-game victory over the Harwich Raleigh Wildcats.

Last week, Kiki was the 13-year-old girls’ champion at the inaugural Lambton Kent elementary school track and field meet in Sarnia.

Kiki won the 200 metres and long jump, finished second in the 100 metres and added a third gold medal with teammates Maria Brown, Makayla Jones and Irelynn Harburn as they won the 4x100 relay.

Kiki was also the 13-year-old girls’ champion at the South Kent Conference meet earlier this month in Chatham, winning the 100, 200, and long jump.

Despite her success, she admits track is secondary to basketball.

“I like the field events, but running isn’t my favourite thing to do,” she admitted.

Kiki wound up getting expert coaching this season from Irma (nee Grant) Isaac, an OFSAA 100-metre gold medallist in her days at John McGregor and a multi-provincial and national champion at the University of Windsor.

“The first time we saw her run was in Grade 4, it blew our minds,” said Kiki’s mother, Ashley (nee Liberty). “She’s a natural athlete.”

In basketball, however, she was a work in progress.

“Grade 7, I was really bad,” Kiki admitted, with a laugh. “The only basics I knew were where the foul line was.”

However, after her Grade 7 season, she was rarely seen without a basketball. She spent hours on the Naahii Ridge outdoor courts near the family’s home, practising with her father, Owino, seven days a week. She also attended open gym sessions for the Wildcats last summer, where she caught the eye of U-14 coach Tim Regan.

“I saw her and thought, ‘Who is this athlete?’” Regan recalled that he invited Kiki to the team tryouts later in August, and she made the team.

“We had 11 girls come back, and she was the 12th player, but she fit right in,” he stated. “I think at first, with all of the returning players, she was a little intimidated, but she stuck with it.”

“I told her she had the athletic ability that she was going to catch up, and she really did,” Regan said.

Kiki wound up getting more floor time as the year went on and was a regular by the time the Wildcats won a bronze medal in the provincial tournament in the spring.

She was named the team’s most improved player at the Wildcats’ organizational year-end awards banquet.

Regan was impressed by Kiki’s improvement not only in her skills but in her confidence.

“Her pure athleticism, she’s so fast,” Regan said of Kiki’s natural ability. “On defence, she would sneak up on people, steal the ball and go down on a fast break.

“And her leaping ability is awesome,” he stated.

“I would say ‘box out,’ and she would say, ‘why should I box out when I can just jump up and get the rebound?’” he said, with a laugh.

Regan said Kiki was the team’s best free-throw shooter, mainly because teams had to foul her to defend against her speed.

“The best thing, she does all this with a smile on her face,” Regan said. “It’s so much fun to see an athlete have a love for a game, to develop that quickly and see her excel at it that quickly.”

Regan, a guidance counsellor and basketball coach at McGregor, said he is looking forward to seeing Kiki – along with five other Wildcats’ teammates – wearing the Panthers’ uniforms next school year, as the White family recently moved to Chatham.

“I’m excited to see her in high school. I think she’s going to turn heads in a lot of sports,” he said.

Brittany Northcott, the Royals’ girls’ basketball coach, shared her excitement about Kiki’s future after seeing her progress from Grade 7 to 8.

“Her improvement from last year to this year is just crazy,” Northcott said. “Kiki brought a level of leadership; she helped orchestrate things on the court.”

“Her time with the Wildcats certainly helped her development,” Northcott said, as Kiki had already played about three months of OBA basketball before the Royals’ season began in January.

It was earlier this spring when the call went out for Wildcats’ girls in the 14-year-old range interested in trying out for a 3-of-3 team to go to Taiwan for the International Children’s Games.

Callie, Zuri, Kate and Kiki were the only ones who responded – and, led by coach Keegan Brennan, a teacher and basketball coach at Tecumseh Public School in Chatham, the four girls are headed to Taiwan.

The games are played on a half-court with a maximum time limit of 12 minutes, and the first team to score 21 points wins.

The girls have conducted several fundraisers to help cover the trip expenses. The next event is a barbecue on Saturday, July 12, at the Chatham Sobey’s grocery store from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The 3-on-3 basketball girls will be joined by the Chatham Pool Sharks, who are sending a nine-person team to the International Children’s Games.

The two groups were recently recognized at a Chatham-Kent Council meeting.

The local contingent is partnering with local businesses and individuals to secure financial support through sponsorships to send these young athletes on a once-in-a-lifetime athletic and cultural experience.

Anyone interested in making a financial contribution to help Kiki, her teammates and swimmers as they represent Chatham-Kent on the international stage can send an email to manager@teamchathamicg.net for information.

The Ridgetown Independent News

By Cheryl Johnstone

June 9, 2026 

Some young athletes from Chatham are getting ready to head to Taiwan this summer.

Seven swimmers and a girls' 3x3 basketball team will compete at the International Children's Games (ICG) in Hualien in August.

Keegan Brennan, manager of Team Chatham and coach of the 3x3 team, explains how he first learned about the games.

"It’s been around forever. Windsor hosted back in 2013, and two basketball coaches and referees that I know very, very well brought a team from Chatham," said Brennan. "So it started to become that kind of an idea, well, could we do that again?"

Brennan added that Windsor sends a swimming team to the games every year.

"So we thought, ‘why not Chatham?’ I teach in the community, so I've seen the youth, I've seen what sports are like here. I thought this is a no-brainer, this is something our little community I know would rally behind 100 per cent," said Brennan.

The swim team roster consists of Liam Praill, Caellum Brennan, Finnegan Brennan, Renee Egunjobi, Clara Jennen, Olivia Bezaire, Kallie Barros and Head Coach Bob Lavoie from the Chatham Pool Sharks Swim Team. The girls' 3x3 basketball team consists of Callie McMullin, Kiki White, Zuri Willder, and Kate Regan from the Chatham Wildcats Basketball organization.

Brennan said the opportunity is finally starting to sink in for the athletes.

"I think the more that people start to ask them questions, and the more that they realize the magnitude of it, I think there's a lot of jitters, a lot of excitement. I think now they're, ‘Oh hang on, I'm travelling across the world to play a sport,’ which is just such a unique opportunity for anyone."

The athletes, coaches and their families are currently fundraising and will be hosting several events, including a BBQ at Sobeys in Chatham on June 12, 19, and July 12. There is also a Trivia Night at Sons of Kent on Tuesday, June 16.

Over 1,000 athletes between the ages of 12 and 15 from more than 30 countries will compete at the Games. For more information on Team Chatham Canada, visit https://www.teamchathamicg.net/.

Chatham, Ontario — Athletes and coaches representing Team Chatham at the 2026 International Children’s Games in Hualien, Taiwan were formally recognized during Monday evening’s Chatham-Kent  Council meeting.

The delegation includes athletes from the Chatham Pool Sharks Swim Team and the Chatham Wildcats Basketball organization, who will compete in swimming and girls’ 3x3 basketball at the internationally recognized event in August 2026.

Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff congratulated the athletes and coaches during the meeting, recognizing both their accomplishments and the significance of representing the municipality on an international stage.

“These young athletes are tremendous ambassadors for Chatham-Kent. Their dedication, teamwork, and commitment to excellence make our entire community proud, and we know they will represent Chatham-Kent and Canada with great character in Taiwan,” said Mayor Canniff.

Councillor Brock McGregor also praised the delegation and highlighted the importance of community representation through sport.

“Opportunities like the International Children’s Games create lifelong memories and valuable leadership experiences for young athletes. It’s exciting to see Team Chatham representing our municipality on the world stage,” said McGregor.

The International Children’s Games provide athletes with opportunities to compete against youth from around the world while building friendships, cultural understanding, leadership skills, and community pride.

The group now turns its focus toward upcoming fundraising initiatives to help support travel costs for the 2026 Games in Taiwan. Residents and local businesses are encouraged to attend events, sponsor the team, and support Team Chatham athletes as they prepare for the international competition.

Hualien, Taiwan / Chatham, Ontario — The Chatham International Children’s Games Committee is proud to announce the athletes and coaches who will represent Team Chatham at the International Children’s Games in August 2026 in Hualien, Taiwan.

Participation in the International Children’s Games provides far more than athletic competition. Athletes will serve as ambassadors for Chatham, Southwestern Ontario, and Canada while engaging with youth from around the world and gaining valuable experiences in teamwork, leadership, and cultural understanding.

Team Chatham will be represented by athletes from the Chatham Pool Sharks Swim Team and the Chatham Wildcats Basketball organization. The delegation will compete in swimming and girls’ 3x3 basketball, highlighting the strong depth of athletic talent and community support across the municipality.

The swim team roster consists of Liam Praill, Caellum Brennan, Finnegan Brennan, Head Coach Bob Lavoie, Renee Egunjobi, Clara Jennen, Olivia Bezaire, and Kallie Barros (pictured left to right).

The girls’ 3x3 basketball team consists of Callie McMullin, Kiki White, Zuri Willder, and Kate Regan (pictured left to right).

Chatham is among the few communities in Southwestern Ontario sending multiple sports to the Games, reflecting the strength of local athletic development programs and the community’s continued commitment to youth sport, inclusion, and active living.

The athletes and coaches will be recognized at Chatham-Kent Council on Monday, May 25, at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers at the Chatham Civic Centre.

The Games are internationally recognized for their lasting impact on young athletes, many of whom go on to become coaches, mentors, and community leaders. The Committee is confident the experience will benefit Team Chatham as athletes return home with new skills, perspectives, and inspiration.

The Chatham International Children’s Games Committee proudly supports the athletes and coaches representing the municipality abroad and encourages residents to cheer on Team Chatham through upcoming fundraising initiatives. For a full list of upcoming events, visit www.teamchathamicg.net.