WBB: Play-In and Quarterfinal Preview

Article by Brian Swane, special to CW

Feb. 20, 2025 - The 2024-25 Canada West women’s basketball season began with 17 teams in pursuit of a championship.

Twelve teams have advanced to the playoffs.

Now the field is about to be narrowed to just four, following play-in and quarterfinal round action this weekend.

The University of Alberta, University of British Columbia, University of the Fraser Valley, and University of Saskatchewan are set to host single-elimination games.

Teams seeded fifth through 12th will look to advance from the play-in round on Friday and join the top four seeds in Saturday’s quarterfinal match-ups. The quarterfinal winners will compete in the semifinal round next week, with those winners advancing to the championship final.

Fans can watch all the playoff action at Canada West TV - Powered by BioSteel.

Games at UFV Athletic Centre in Abbotsford, BC

#5 Calgary Dinos (16-4) vs #12 Manitoba Bisons (7-13)

#4 UFV Cascades (15-5) vs #5/#12 winner

Despite closing the schedule with three consecutive defeats, Manitoba finished 2024-25 with its highest win percentage in five years, and clinched Canada West’s final playoff spot on the last night of the regular season. Calgary is one of the hottest teams in the country, having won 12 of its last 13 games, including a pair of home victories over the Bisons, 93-50 on Jan. 17 and 83-43 on Jan. 18. The Dinos have won 28 straight regular season games against Manitoba, but this is the teams’ first ever postseason meeting.

UFV enters the postseason with tremendous momentum, having won its final six games of the regular season by an average of 26 points. The Cascades, who are coming off a Canada West bronze medal and trip to the U Sports Final 8 last winter, boast a wealth of experience, with their top six scorers all in at least their third year of eligibility. UFV did not face either of its potential quarterfinal opponents during the 2024-25 regular season.

Games at Saville Community Sports Centre in Edmonton, AB

#6 Victoria Vikes (12-8) vs #11 Lethbridge Pronghorns (10-10)

#3 Alberta Pandas (18-2) vs #6/#11 winner

For the second straight year, the Vikes and Pronghorns are tipping off the postseason against each other: in 2024, Victoria defeated Lethbridge 54-43 in the play-in round before upsetting UBC in the quarterfinals. The Pronghorns, however, squeaked out victories over Victoria in each of the teams’ meetings this season, 64-58 on Jan. 31 and 66-60 on Feb. 1 in Lethbridge. In the 2024-25 Canada West regular season, Victoria ranked ninth for most points scored and 10^th for fewest points allowed while Lethbridge scored the 10^th most points and was tied for eighth fewest points against.

On Nov. 15 and 16, Alberta dropped back-to-back games to the Saskatchewan Huskies in Saskatoon. Since then, the Pandas haven’t lost, reeling off 16 consecutive wins, an incredible run that includes a pair of dominant victories over Lethbridge last month. The Pandas didn’t play Victoria during the regular season, but defeated the Vikes in the semifinal round last year to reach the Canada West championship final for the fourth time in the last five postseasons. Alberta was a perfect 10-0 at the Saville Community Sports Centre in 2024-25.

Games at War Memorial Gymnasium in Vancouver, BC

#7 Regina Cougars (13-7) vs #10 UBCO Heat (7-13)

#2 UBC Thunderbirds (18-2) vs #7/#10 winner

Regina and UBCO are meeting in the Canada West postseason for the first time. The teams’ last time playing each other in the regular season came way back in December 2022, when the Heat posted their first ever win over the Cougars, 89-84 in Kelowna. If the Heat are to defeat Regina again, they will need to put the clamps on Canada West’s leading scorer, guard Jade Belmore, who averaged 19.4 points per game for the Cougars in 2024-25. Regina stumbled down the stretch, losing five of its last six games, while UBCO regrouped to go 4-4 down the stretch after suffering six straight losses midseason.

UBC finished atop the Pacific Division standings with win percentage of .900, its best in the regular season since 2007-08. Under the guidance of second-year head coach Isabel Ormand, the T-Birds have been a dominant force, with all eighteen of their victories coming by double-digits and their two losses coming by a combined seven points. UBC won all three of its regular season games against UBCO by an average of 38 points. The T-Birds haven’t faced Regina in the regular season or playoffs since January 2023, when they dropped a pair of games on the road to the Cougars.

Games at Physical Activity Complex in Saskatoon, SK

#8 Trinity Western Spartans (10-10) vs #9 Mount Royal Cougars (11-9)

#1 Saskatchewan Huskies (18-2) vs #8/#9 winner

On paper, the inaugural postseason clash between the Spartans and Cougars looks to be the most evenly matched of the play-in round: the teams finished the regular season within one win of each other, both went 4-6 over their last 10 games, and they split their two regular season meetings, which took place in Calgary back in November. The Cougars have proven to be road warriors, going 8-2 in the opponent’s gym this season, while Trinity Western has also traveled well, with half of its 10 wins coming away from home.

The Huskies might even be better than one year ago, which is saying a lot considering they suffered just one loss in the regular season en route to winning the Canada West championship in 2024. Since dropping their first two contests of the season, both in Calgary to the Dinos, the Huskies have won 18 straight games. Saskatchewan ranks first in the league for most points scored, fewest points allowed, rebound margin, offensive efficiency, and lowest opponent’s field goal percentage, among other categories. The Huskies did not face Trinity Western this season, but did sweep a series with Mount Royal back in January. They tamed the Cougars 82-51 on Jan. 10, then followed that up with an 80-55 victory the next day.