WBB: Final Four to decide new champion

Brian Swane, special to CW

It’s why basketball in March is described as madness.

The chance that, for a given 40 minutes, even the most overmatched underdogs can be one point better than the seemingly unstoppable powerhouse. As unpredictable as it is inevitable, equal parts ecstasy and heartbreak, there is nothing more captivating than the upset.

And with its novel format for 2022, a single-elimination bracket that began with all 17 teams, the Canada West women’s basketball postseason has delivered them in spades.

Three of the four quarterfinal games held March 6 in Calgary saw the lower-seeded team win, with only the top-seeded Saskatchewan Huskies surviving the mayhem.

Those sent packing included the Alberta Pandas, who finished with the best record in the Central Division, along with the Trinity Western Spartans and UFV Cascades, who tied for top spot in the West Division. What remains is a fascinating quartet of teams that are assembling this weekend in Saskatoon for the 2022 Canada West Women’s Basketball Final Four at the University of Saskatchewan’s Physical Activity Complex.

Friday’s semi-finals will see the hosts Huskies entertain the Lethbridge Pronghorns at 6 p.m. CST, and the Regina Cougars taking on the Winnipeg Wesmen at 8 p.m. CST. The winners will meet in the championship final at 7 p.m. on Saturday, preceded by the bronze medal game at 5 p.m. CST.

Saskatchewan is the two-time defending Canada West champion and has won four of the last five conference titles. Regina is the only other team to capture the Valerie Girsberger Trophy in that span. It’s been nearly three decades since Lethbridge won its only title nearly thirty years ago, in 1993, and Winnipeg is seeking its first Canada West championship.

Will the favourites prevail? Will there be more bracket-busting? Anything is possible during the madness of March.

Catch all the action streaming live on CWTV presented by Co-op. 

Lethbridge Pronghorns (10-6 regular season, 2-0 playoffs)

How They Got Here: defeated Trinity Western 76-67 in Canada West quarterfinal

Player to Watch: Fourth-year guard Jessica Haenni (Canada West Second Team All-Star; 14.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.1 apg)

Key Stat: The Pronghorns have lost just twice in their previous 16 games spanning the regular season and playoffs, going 14-2 since Nov. 6, including eight straight wins on the road or a neutral court.

Regina Cougars (8-8 regular season, 2-0 playoffs)

How They Got Here: defeated Alberta 80-71 in Canada West quarterfinal

Player to Watch: First-year guard Jade Belmore (CW Rookie of the Year, CW Third Team All-Star, CW All-Rookie Team; 14.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 3.8 apg)

Key Stat: The Cougars make – and take - a lot of shots from downtown, leading Canada West during the regular season in both 3-pointers made (9.9 per game) and attempted (30.3 per game).

Saskatchewan Huskies (14-2 regular season, 1-0 playoffs)

How They Got Here: defeated Calgary 72-62 in Canada West quarterfinal

Player to Watch: Fifth-year forward Summer Masikewich (CW Defensive Player of the Year, CW First Team All-Star; 17.7 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.0 apg)

Key Stat: The Huskies haven’t lost a Canada West playoff game in more than four years, winning 12 straight since being defeated by Regina in the 2018 championship final.

Winnipeg Wesmen (14-2 regular season, 2-0 playoffs)

How They Got Here: defeated UFV 75-69 in Canada West quarterfinal

Player to Watch: Fifth-year forward Keylyn Filewich (CW Player of the Year, CW First Team All-Star; 17.3 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.6 apg)

Key Stat: Winnipeg is 4-0 against the Cougars this season, winning twice both at home on the road, with the victories coming by an average margin of 7.8 points.

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