WBB: Gage Grassick named CW Player of the Year

March 6, 2025 - Saskatchewan's Gage Grassick has been named the 2025 Canada West women's basketball Player of the Year.

The pride of Prince Albert, Sask. put forth a phenomenal season for the conference leading Huskies, topping the conference in multiple offensive categories. She led Canada West in assists per game (6.0) and three-point shooting (41.4%), with her 18.4 points-per-game ranking second. She surpassed the 20-point mark seven times, and also became just the 12th player in conference history to record a triple-double.

The conference announced its major award recipients on Thursday, which included a third straight Defensive Player of the Year nod for Alberta's Claire Signatovich, as well as a second consecutive Coach of the Year award for Saskatchewan's Lisa Thomaidis. Keira Daly's dazzling debut season for UBC was recognized with Rookie of the Year honours, while Kyra Collier of Lethbridge was awarded the Courage Overcoming Adversity Award. Regina's Jade Belmore received the Student-Athlete Community Service Award for her dedication to mentoring youth basketball athletes.

The Saskatchewan Huskies and UBC Thunderbirds will battle in the Canada West championship final this Saturday (5 p.m. CST), as the Huskies look to make it back-to-back banners on their home floor. The T-Birds will look to play spoiler in search of their first conference crown since 2015.

Meanwhile, Alberta hosts Fraser Valley in Saturday's bronze medal game (8 p.m. MT) with a 2025 U SPORTS national championship berth on the line.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Gage Grassick, Saskatchewan Huskies

Gage Grassick is the 2025 Canada West Player of the Year following a phenomenal season with the conference's top-seeded Saskatchewan Huskies.

The Prince Albert product averaged the second-most points per game in the conference with 18.4 per contest while leading Canada West in assists per game (6.0) and three-point shooting (41.4%).

Surpassing the 20-point mark seven times this season, her most notable performance came on Nov. 9 when she became the 12^th player in conference history to record a triple-double with an 18-point, 10-rebound, 11-assist effort in a 92-48 win over the Manitoba Bisons.

She becomes the eighth USask student-athlete to be named the Canada West Women's Basketball Player of the Year, joining Carly Ahlstrom (2022-23), Sabine Dukate (2018-19), Laura Dally (2015-16), Dalyce Emmerson (2013-14), Kim Tulloch (2010-11), and Sarah Crooks (2006-07, 2005-06).

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Claire Signatovich, Alberta Pandas

For a remarkable third-consecutive season, Pandas forward Claire Signatovich was named the Canada West Defensive Player of the Year.

Signatovich was the anchor for a Pandas team that allowed just 53.6 points against on 32.7% opponent shooting, both second best in Canada West. The fifth-year Pandas forward ranked second in Canada West with 9.5 rebounds per game, finishing fourth with 116 defensive rebounds, and eighth with 161 total rebounds

The third team Canada West All-Star also added 30 steals and 24 blocks, all despite missing three games due to injury in January. Signatovich finished her Pandas career as the program’s all-time leader in double doubles (27), blocked shots (136), defensive rebounds (580), third in total rebounds (836), and seventh in steals (137).

Signatovich is just the second player to win this award in three-consecutive seasons, joining former SFU and Saskatchewan star Katie Miyazaki.

"To win this award for a third time in a row speaks to Claire’s incredible preparation and consistency as a player. Her ability to guard multiple positions, alter shot selection, and control rebounds makes her an elite defender. Our team defense was consistently good this season because of the confidence the team 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 both fun to watch and coach.” - Alberta Head Coach Scott Edwards

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Keira Daly, UBC Thunderbirds

It took no time at all for Keira Daly to establish herself as not only one of the top rookies in the Canada West, but one of the most impactful players across the conference.

Finishing second in team scoring with 269 points in the regular season, the Hamilton, Ont. product was seventh in conference points-per-game with 15.8 and second in points-per-40 minutes played with 26, all on the strength of an impressive 44.2 percent shooting from the field.

She has elevated her game even further in the playoffs, leading all players on the court with 22 points in UBC’s semifinal win over the Alberta Pandas, pushing the T-Birds to their first Canada West Final appearance in 10 years. Daly becomes just the third Thunderbird to win the conference Rookie of the Year award and the first since Cait Haggarty was honoured in 2003-04.

“It’s an incredible honour and milestone for somebody just beginning her career. I’m not surprised, she’s put in a ton of work and came in incredibly ready to go to compete at this level and you’ve seen that in her play across the year. She missed three games but she’s still sitting amongst not just first years in Canada West, but amongst the league leaders, period. I think that says a lot about who she is and who she’ll keep growing into as well. As much as these are individual awards, you can’t have them if you don’t have the teammates. We had the teammates to have this first year come in and support her and what she can do. That’s the culture we want with our players as well, so I think that’s a great testament to us as a team.” - UBC Head Coach Isabel Ormond

STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Jade Belmore, Regina Cougars

Last year's Canada West Player of the Year has proven herself as an impact player every time she steps on the court, earning another first team all-star nod this season.

However, it's her work and dedication off the court that has resulted in her being honoured with the 2025 Canada West Student-Athlete Community Service Award.

Belmore is passionate about giving back and supporting the next generation of aspiring basketball players. She has helped run basketball camps with youth in Iqaluit in conjunction with Nunavut Basketball. She has also worked with Sacred Heart Community School in Regina, a school designated as serving a low income at need community, serving as a role model while establishing close connections with teams and coaches.

Jade also has represented the Cougars women's basketball program with the Indigenous “Living Skies” Basketball League. She has coached numerous teams, from U15 Jr Cougar teams in the PEBL League to being an apprentice coach for the U15 Provincial Team. ​

On campus, she serves on Regina's student-athlete council and helps run programming at Basketball Saskatchewan through her fieldwork program at UofR.

"Jade excels on-and-off the court and exemplifies what it means to be a student-athlete. She is one of the top players in Canada while about to become a five-time Academic All-Canadian. Jade is very aware of the responsibility to give back to her community and she truly sets the example for what we want our program to be about. Players like Jade come along rarely in a coach's career and I feel so fortunate to have had a chance to coach her. She's special in every way." - Regina Head Coach Dave Taylor

COURAGE OVERCOMING ADVERSITY AWARD: Kyra Collier, Lethbridge Pronghorns

Kyra Collier’s journey this season has been nothing short of inspiring. Just days before the season began, she faced an unimaginable loss—the sudden passing of her father, Clint. He was not just a father, but a cornerstone of her life, deeply loved by their family and the community for his constant support. His death sent shockwaves through everyone who knew him and left Kyra with the heavy weight of grief just as she was preparing for one of the most important seasons of her life.

But instead of letting the heartache define her, Kyra found a way to channel it into something powerful. From the moment she stepped onto the court for her first game, it was clear she was playing for her dad. Before every game, she takes a quiet moment to sit in his seat, a poignant tribute to the man who always had her back. The love and strength she’s drawn from him has fueled her to have the best season of her career—one filled with incredible performances, leadership and an unwavering drive to honour his memory.

Her resilience has not only been felt by those around her but is evident in everything she does—from leading by example on the court to excelling academically as an Academic All-Canadian. Her coach, Dave Waknuk, refers to her as a “Swiss army knife,” a player who does it all and does it with heart. Through the pain, Kyra has proven that strength isn’t just about physical ability—it’s about heart, and hers is stronger than ever.

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

COACH OF THE YEAR: Lisa Thomaidis, Saskatchewan Huskies

For the second consecutive season and seventh time in her impressive career, Lisa Thomaidis has been honoured as Canada West Coach of the Year. The 26-year head coach of the Huskies also won the award in 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2016, and 2024.

Saskatchewan was nearly unstoppable this season, tying a conference-best record of 18-2 which included an 18-game winning streak. Thanks to the league's most dominant offence and defence, Thomaidis' Huskies entered the 2025 women's basketball playoffs as the No. 1 seed and currently rank second in the nation in the U SPORTS Top 10 rankings.

Seeking her 10^th conference title, Thomaidis also became the winningest coach in Canada West women's basketball history this season, surpassing former UBC head coach Deb Huband with her 345^th regular season win.