The Prince Albert, Sask., product delivered a dominant senior season, guiding the Huskies to a flawless 20-0 mark and the second undefeated regular season in program history. Grassick’s impact extended across the box score, as she ranked among the conference’s top five in assists, steals, total points, three-pointers made, and total field goals, demonstrating elite versatility and an innate ability to influence the game in multiple facets.

The conference announced its major award recipients on Thursday, which included a third straight Coach of the Year award for Saskatchewan’s Lisa Thomaidis. Calgary’s Amélie Collin earned Defensive Player of the Year, while Victoria’s Avery Geddes was honoured as Rookie of the Year. Her teammate Natalie Allison received the Student-Athlete Community Service Award, while Esther Allison from Fraser Valley was named the Courage Overcoming Adversity Award recipient.

The Canada West Final awaits on Saturday afternoon, featuring a surprise matchup few would have predicted at the start of the postseason. The top seeded UBC Thunderbirds will host the No. 6 seeded Calgary Dinos, with tip-off set for 2 p.m. PST in Vancouver.

The T-Birds are back in the final for a second straight season and will seek their first conference crown since 2015, while the Dinos will look to write the final chapter of their Cinderella story and break a 25 year championship drought, last having won a conference title in 2001.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Gage Grassick, Saskatchewan Huskies

Guard | Fifth Year | Hometown: Prince Albert, Sask.

For the second consecutive season, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan product Gage Grassick has been named the best player in Canada West Women’s Basketball.

Leading the Huskies to a flawless 20-0 regular season record, Grassick was not just the best player in the conference, but also the most well-rounded player this season doing nearly everything on the court at an elite level.

Averaging 15.8 points per game, the now two-time Player of the Year ranked in the top-10 in nearly every major statistical category in the conference including assists (2^nd), three-pointers made (3^rd), steals (4^th), field goals made (5^th) and assist-to-turnover ratio (5^th).

She surpassed the 15-point mark in 11 contests and recorded five double-doubles, as the top-ranked Huskies built one of the longest winning streaks in U SPORTS.

She becomes the second USask student-athlete to be named the Canada West Player of the Year in consecutive seasons, joining Sarah Crooks who did so in 2005-06 and 2006-07.

“Gage has had another exceptional year, leading our team to a record-setting run of consecutive wins. Her stats speak for themselves, but it’s how she impacts winning in so many other ways that differentiates her from all others. ​ Her leadership and the immeasurable intangibles that she brings to the court every day truly make her special.” – Saskatchewan Huskies Head Coach Lisa Thomaidis

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Amélie Collin, Calgary Dinos

Guard | Fifth Year | Hometown: Rimouski, Que.

It was a record-breaking senior season in every sense of the expression for Dinos’ fifth-year guard Amélie Collin. The Rimouski, Que., product, who has been a starter from day one on the UCalgary campus, reset a handful of program and conference records while leading the Dinos to yet another outstanding season on the court.

The 5-foot-9 guard broke the program record for career steals (259) in the first half of the season before taking down both the Canada West records for career steals (previously 308, Collin graduates with 322) and steals in a single season (98). Collin also finished tied in leading the team in scoring this season with 12.1 points per game, while also leading the entire conference in three-point shooting – connecting at a 39.3% clip.

“Amélie is the most tenacious defender I have ever had the pleasure of coaching. She has such natural instincts when it comes to anticipating off ball. Every game we call on her to guard the opponent’s best players, and she consistently holds them under their points-per-game average. Her records will stand for a long time in our program and in Canada West.” – Calgary Dinos Head Coach Sarah Besselink

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Avery Geddes, Victoria Vikes

Guard | First Year | Hometown: Victoria, B.C

Avery Geddes, a first-year guard from Victoria, B.C., and the daughter of Vikes basketball legend Lindsay Brooke, made an immediate impact as a dynamic presence on both ends of the floor.

Named a starter to open the Vikes’ regular season, Geddes quickly proved why, showcasing sharp shooting and strong playmaking ability. She led the Vikes’ offence with 73 assists, seventh most in the conference.

Her breakout came with back-to-back game-changing performances in wins over UBCO and UBC in early November. She went 8-for-16 for 20 points and seven assists in a narrow 78-76 victory over the Heat, then followed that effort with a standout performance against UBC, shooting 6-for-8 from beyond the arc and scoring 24 points as Victoria upset the Thunderbirds on their home court.

Running point for the Vikes, Geddes served as a facilitator who helped the offence flourish, playing a central role in Victoria’s playoff push.

STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Natalie Allison, Victoria Vikes

Guard | Second Year | Hometown: Calgary, Alta.

Natalie’s commitment to community engagement has been a defining part of her university experience. She serves as Director of Charity Events with the Commerce Student Society at the University of Victoria, organizing fundraising initiatives that support local charities while strengthening connections between community organizations and students. She is also deeply involved in youth sport, coaching with the WSANEC Qelaxen girls basketball team, a program founded by a Vikes alum that creates opportunities for Indigenous girls to develop confidence, leadership, and life skills through sport.

In addition to her community work, Natalie has excelled academically in one of UVic’s most demanding programs. Now in her second year at the Gustavson School of Business, she posted a 7.13 GPA on a nine-point scale as a rookie and is on track to earn Academic All-Canadian recognition this season.

Natalie’s impact extends further through her ongoing involvement with basketball development programs in the region. She has worked with the Junior Vikes program throughout the season and provides one-on-one coaching to local youth, reinforcing her commitment to mentorship and skill development both within the university and across the broader community.

COURAGE OVERCOMING ADVERSITY AWARD: Esther Allison, Fraser Valley Cascades

Forward | Fifth Year | Hometown: Langley, B.C.

Esther Allison’s path through Canada West basketball has been defined by quiet perseverance and unwavering belief. Recruited out of a small program at Credo Christian, Allison’s journey is a testament to sustained effort, resilience, and faith. Though setbacks could have ended her career on multiple occasions, she inspired teammates and coaches alike by continuing to find a way forward.

Her first two seasons were a grind, as she worked to prove she belonged at the Canada West level. She wasn’t outspoken, but her commitment was unmistakable, steadily improving behind the scenes without complaint. By her third season, Allison had earned a role on the team. By her fourth, she became indispensable. Her growth culminated in a breakout year that helped carry her team to the Canada West Final Four, with her impact so significant that she was widely credited with helping save the Cascades season.

Her own expectations were high heading into her final season of eligibility this year, following a strong offseason. Those plans were nearly derailed in early October, when Allison tore her ACL with just seconds remaining in the final exhibition game. For most athletes, it would have ended the season. Instead, Allison immediately set her sights on returning.

She attacked her rehabilitation with the same determination that had defined her career, working relentlessly on the sideline and pushing herself back into game readiness under the supervision of her medical team. By mid-November she had returned to the lineup, and by January she was back in a starting role, a remarkable accomplishment.

Her final season became not just the conclusion to an inspiring basketball journey, but a powerful example of perseverance, leadership, and belief in oneself, making Esther a fitting recipient of the Canada West Courage Overcoming Adversity Award.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Lisa Thomaidis, Saskatchewan Huskies

27th Season

For the third consecutive season and the eighth time in her remarkable career, Lisa Thomaidis has been recognized as the Canada West Coach of the Year. Now in her 27^th season as head coach of the Huskies, she also took home the award in 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2024 and 2025.

Thomaidis’ Huskies were unstoppable this season, literally, recording a 20-0 regular season record for the first perfect season under the accomplished head coach. It also marked just the 17^th perfect season in the conference and first since the Regina Cougars went undefeated in 2011-12.

Thanks to the perfection in conference play, the Dogs also built an incredible 52-game winning streak, the fourth-longest in the history of Canadian university women’s basketball.

Opening the season as the No. 1-ranked team in U SPORTS, the Huskies held that streak for an impressive 12 weeks, tying their longest streak as the top team in the nation.

“With this record-breaking season, Coach Thomaidis and our women’s basketball program continues to set the standard of excellence across the country. This recognition is a testament to both her commitment to our student-athletes and the team culture she continues to build, producing lasting results both on and off the court. We are incredibly proud of the success that both her and the program have achieved this season.” – Shannon Chinn, Saskatchewan Huskies Chief Athletics Officer