WBB: Belmore named CW Player of the Year

Feb. 21, 2024 - Regina's Jade Belmore has been named the 2024 Canada West Women's Basketball Player of the Year.

The hometown Regina product took her game to another level throughout a stellar regular season campaign that saw her lead the conference in scoring with 18.3 points-per-game.

Student-athletes from six schools were represented among this year's major award winners, including a second straight Defensive Player of the Year nod for Alberta's Claire Signatovich. Lisa Thomaidis was named Canada West Coach of the Year for the sixth time, while Victoria's Makena Anderson was recognized as Rookie of the Year.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jade Belmore, Regina Cougars

Jade Belmore is the Canada West Women's Basketball Player of the Year after a sensational third season with the Cougars which saw her average a conference-leading 18.3 points per game while also putting up 7.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per contest.

Belmore hit the 30-point mark three times during the Canada West schedule, most notably a 31-point effort on Feb. 3 that helped give the Cougars a 69-62 road win over previously undefeated and No. 1-ranked Saskatchewan. Belmore also had 31 points in a 78-76 win over Fraser Valley and scored 30 in a win over Thompson Rivers. She finished the conference schedule with five double-doubles.

She becomes the third U of R player to be named the Canada West Women's Basketball Player of the Year, joining Cymone Bouchard (2004) and Joanna Zalesiak (2012).

Belmore's play was a huge factor in Regina rolling to an impressive 15-5 conference record. The Cougars will enter the Canada West championships as the No. 5 seed and will open up with a play-in round match on Wednesday night against Manitoba.
​

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Claire Signatovich, Alberta Pandas

For the second-straight season, the best defensive player in Canada West Women’s Basketball is Pandas forward Claire Signatovich.

The fourth-year Winnipeg product turned in a stellar season for the Pandas, who finished conference play with a 14-6 record. Signatovich led Canada West with 37 blocks, finishing sixth in with 182 total rebounds, third with 127 defensive rebounds, while adding 30 steals.

The engineering student tied the Pandas record for career double-doubles this season with 19, with her 112 career blocks now the 11^th most in Canada West history, and the most ever for a Panda.

Having already established herself as one of the best defensive players in program history, Signatovich now also joins an elite group of athletes to be named the CW Defensive Player of the Year multiples times, becoming just the fourth female to accomplish the feat.

"Claire's ability to guard multiple positions, alter shot selection, and control rebounds make her an elite defender. She continues to grow as a player and improve every season. Our defensive improvements as a team this season come from the confidence the group has in each other and Claire is the anchor to that. She is a leader on the court, a relentless competitor, and her unique skill set is a joy to coach." - Scott Edwards, Head Coach, Alberta Pandas

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Makena Anderson, Victoria Vikes

Showcasing her competitive spirit and will to win from the get-go, Makena Anderson has put her drive on display for the conference to see in her rookie season. Playing in all 20 games for the Vikes and making 16 starts in 2023-24, Anderson averaged 24.1 minutes per game on the floor, the fourth-most on the team.

Having the ability to score in a number of different ways, Anderson worked her way to a 9.0 points per game average, recording a season-high 24 at Trinity Western on Jan. 12. She made 25 three-pointers over the season, the third-most for the Vikes, and also ranked third on the team in made field goals with 67. Averaging 5.5 rebounds per game, Anderson also tallied 37 steals and 29 assists during her first year.

Known for taking feedback and making adjustments right away, Anderson has made a noticeable impact in multiple games this season with her coachability and adaptability, putting her in position for tremendous growth over her career.

“We’re really excited for Makena to get recognized as rookie of the year. Makena is incredibly competitive and has a will -to win that she brings to practice and games. She proved herself from the get-go and had a really strong start to her rookie season. She’s someone who’s got the ability to score in a number of different ways and who opposing teams need to be worried about.” - Carrie Watts, Head Coach, Victoria Vikes

STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Nikki Cabuco, Fraser Valley

Cabuco has made a huge impact on the court for the UFV Cascades, earning a spot in the starting lineup as a rookie and maintaining that key role as the Cascades have risen to become a perennial presence in the U SPORTS national rankings.

Now in her fourth season of eligibility, the Port Moody, B.C. product's passion for serving others is also creating an off-court legacy that's even more impactful and long-lasting. She is not only on track to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care from UFV, but she's also backing up her academic studies with practical action in the community.

"Nikki has always had a passion for serving others. She has consistently led our community outreach projects since her first year as a Cascade. However, as she has progressed with her Child and Youth Care degree, her desire to get into the community and help marginalized groups has blossomed,” says Cascades women’s basketball head coach Al Tuchscherer. “It has been inspirational watching Nik fit her community work into her schedule and to make some of these important social issues a priority in her life. She continues to flourish as a student and an athlete as her life focus shifts to helping others. It is a privilege to coach her and to watch her apply her off-court gifts into something special."

Cabuco has taken what she’s learned in UFV’s Faculty of Child, Youth and Family Studies and applied it with passion through her extensive work in the community with a focus on marginalized groups. She currently serves as a board member with the Matsqui-Abbotsford Impact Society, giving input into policy, development and goal-setting. She also serves as a youth and family ambassador with Foundry BC, participating in an innovative project to support a diverse pan-Canadian network of young people and family.

Last summer, she also served as a substance use counsellor through the Matsqui-Abbotsford Impact Society and Foundry BC’s Abbotsford chapter, offering walk-in counselling and supported outreach activities while also participating in Indigenous youth advocacy groups and traditional celebrations.

COURAGE OVERCOMING ADVERSITY AWARD: Lauren Bartlett, Manitoba Bisons ​

When Bartlett took the floor this season, she was playing for more than just the team name on her jersey. She was also playing for her father Colin, who lost his battle with cancer shortly before the start of the season. Despite the heavy emotional toll of losing a father, Bartlett continued to show up to the gym every day and found joy in playing the game her and her dad loved. She showed tremendous resilience through the ups and downs of the season, taking an increased leadership role while maintaining the same level of play that has led to her becoming the program leader in nine different career stat categories.

“The part that I am most proud of her for is the way she has shown vulnerability and allowed herself to accept help from the Bison community while still doing the hard part of showing up every day ready to give her best,” says Bisons women’s basketball head coach Michele Sung. “Even with this extremely difficult situation she found a way to process the grief while still enjoying her last year of university basketball. I think Lauren is the exact example that the Tracey McLeod Award was intended to recognize.”

Bartlett will move forward as the Canada West nominee for the U SPORTS Tracey McLeod Award.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Lisa Thomaidis, Saskatchewan Huskies

Thomaidis adds another accolade to her long and impressive resume at the helm of the Huskies. The honour is her sixth Canada West Coach of the Year award, having also won the award in 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2016.

Her Huskies were nearly unstoppable this season, compiling a 19-1 record while boasting the conference's most prolific offence. The team enters the 2024 Canada West women's basketball championships as the number one seed and are currently ranked No. 2 in U SPORTS.

Thomaidis will be seeking her ninth conference championship with the Huskies, with the team's most recent conference title coming in 2022.

The revered coach also experienced success on the national stage this season, guiding Germany's women's national program to their first-ever Olympic berth less than one year after being named head coach of the program. Thomaidis will be making her fourth Olympic appearance in Paris later this summer, with previous appearances coming as an assistant coach with Team Canada in 2012 and as head coach with Team Canada at the 2016 and 2020 Games.