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U Sports women's basketball championship

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U Sports women's basketball championship
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2025 U Sports Women's Basketball Championship
SportBasketball
Founded1972; 52 years ago (1972)
First season1972
Organising bodyU Sports
No. of teams8
CountryCanada
Most recent
champion(s)		Carleton Ravens (3rd title)
Most titlesVictoria Vikes (9)
TV partner(s)CBC,[1] TVA
Official websiteusports.ca/en/sports/basketball/w

The U Sports Women's Basketball Championship, branded as the Women's Basketball Final 8, is a Canadian university basketball tournament conducted by U Sports, and determines the women's national champion. The tournament involves the champions from each of Canada's four regional sports conferences. The Bronze Baby trophy is awarded to the winners.

Seventeen different schools have won the tournament. The University of Victoria has the most tournament wins, with nine. Laurentian University has seven championships. The University of British Columbia has taken the title six times, while the University of Windsor and Simon Fraser University have five apiece. Carleton University, the University of Winnipeg, and University of Manitoba have each won three championships, while Bishop's University and the University of Saskatchewan have won two. Seven programs have one national championship.

History

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The tournament was originally composed of just four qualifying teams from 1972 to 1976 until it was expanded to include six in 1977.[2] The championship was then changed to include eight teams in 1979 and has generally remained the same since then. In the 2011 edition, the then-named CIS had West, Central, and East regional play-in games to determine the three remaining spot in the tournament (the other five went to the four conference champions and host).[2] In 2012, there were East and West regional games to determine two additional berths and by 2013 the league had reverted to voting in the three remaining spots.[2] Aside from those two years of regional qualifiers, the tournament has always taken place over one weekend at a pre-determined host site.[2]

The trophy features a figure that is a replica of a statue that was in the grounds of Dunfermline College of Physical Education in Scotland.[3] The trophy was first donated in 1922 by the Students' Council of McGill University and awarded to the Ontario and Quebec conference champion of the Women's Interuniversity Athletic Union (WIAU). After the WIAU amalgamated with the Ontario Women's Interuniversity Athletic Union (OWIAA) in 1971, the trophy was retired and returned to McGill.[3][4] The trophy was then offered to the Canadian Women's Interuniversity Athletic Union (CWIAU) in 1972 to be competed for at a fully national level.[3] The CWIAU merged with the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (CIAU), the men's union, in 1978 and awarded by the now-named U Sports governing body.

The 2021 championship tournaments were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]

Format

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The championship consists of an eight-team single-elimination tournament. Four teams automatically qualify for the tournament as one of the winners of the four conferences, two qualify as the runners-up of both the OUA and Canada West conference, one qualifies as the host, and one is given an at-large berth.[6]

Results

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Year Winner[3][2] Runner-up Score Venue Host
1972 UBC Thunderettes UNB Red Bloomers 74–69 – University of Saskatchewan
1973 UBC Thunderettes (2) Manitoba Bisonettes 50–30 – McGill University
1974 UBC Thunderettes (3) UNB Red Bloomers 67–53 – University of Winnipeg
1975 Laurentian Lady Vees UBC Thunderettes 59–49 – University of New Brunswick
1976 Laurentian Lady Vees (2) UNB Red Bloomers 50–42 – University of Guelph
1977 Laurentian Lady Vees (3) Winnipeg Wesmenettes 61–50 – University of Calgary
1978 Laurentian Lady Vees (4) Winnipeg Lady Wesmen 69–51 – University of Calgary (2)
1979 Laurentian Lady Vees (5) Victoria Vikettes 61–53 (2OT) – University of Regina
1980 Victoria Vikettes Dalhousie Tigers 64–59 – Dalhousie University
1981 Victoria Vikettes (2) Bishop's Gaiters 61–59 – University of Guelph (2)
1982 Victoria Vikettes (3) Bishop's Gaiters 70–55 – University of Saskatchewan (2)
1983 Bishop's Gaiters Victoria Vikettes 64–49 – University of Manitoba
1984 Bishop's Gaiters (2) Winnipeg Lady Wesmen 70–62 – University of Manitoba (2)
1985 Victoria Vikettes (4) Laurentian Lady Vees 71–52 – Bishop's University
1986 Toronto Varsity Blues Victoria Vikettes 68–63 – University of Winnipeg (2)
1987 Victoria Vikettes (5) Laurentian Lady Vees 54–52 – Laval University
1988 Manitoba Bisons Calgary Dinosaurs 61–55 – University of Lethbridge
1989 Calgary Dinosaurs UPEI Panthers 92–55 – Laurentian University
1990 Laurentian Lady Vees (6) Calgary Dinosaurs 74–65 – University of Toronto
1991[7] Laurentian Lady Vees (7) Regina Cougars 79–72 (OT) – Laval University (2)
1992 Victoria Vikes (6) Winnipeg Wesmen 64–51 – University of Prince Edward Island
1993 Winnipeg Wesmen Victoria Vikes 70–63 – University of Victoria
1994 Winnipeg Wesmen (2) Toronto Varsity Blues 90–76 – University of Calgary (3)
1995 Winnipeg Wesmen (3) Manitoba Bisons 72–61 – Lakehead University
1996 Manitoba Bisons (2) Toronto Varsity Blues 81–77 (OT) – Laval University (3)
1997 Manitoba Bisons (3) York Yeowomen 73–62 – Lakehead University (2)
1998 Victoria Vikes (7) Manitoba Bisons 66–61 – Lakehead University (3)
1999 Alberta Pandas Victoria Vikes 54–46 – Lakehead University (4)
2000 Victoria Vikes (8) Calgary Dinos 57–41 – University of Alberta
2001 Regina Cougars Alberta Pandas 94–85 – University of Alberta (2)
2002 Simon Fraser Clan Laval Rouge et Or 66–51 – McMaster University
2003 Victoria Vikes (9) Winnipeg Wesmen 60–51 – McMaster University (2)
2004 UBC Thunderbirds (4) Regina Cougars 60–53 – University of Winnipeg (3)
2005 Simon Fraser Clan (2) Winnipeg Wesmen 70–60 – University of Winnipeg (4)
2006 UBC Thunderbirds (5) Cape Breton Capers 56–53 – University of New Brunswick (2)
2007 Simon Fraser Clan (3) Alberta Pandas 72–68 – Memorial University of Newfoundland
2008 UBC Thunderbirds (6) Regina Cougars 67–46 Physical Activity Complex (PAC) University of Saskatchewan (3)
2009[8] Simon Fraser Clan (4) Regina Cougars 68–62 CKHS, Main Gymnasium University of Regina (2)
2010[8] Simon Fraser Clan (5) Windsor Lancers 77–56 Burridge Gymnasium McMaster University (3)
2011 Windsor Lancers Saskatchewan Huskies 63–49 St. Denis Centre Fieldhouse University of Windsor
2012 Windsor Lancers (2) UBC Thunderbirds 69–53 Jack Simpson Gymnasium University of Calgary (4)
2013 Windsor Lancers (3) Regina Cougars 66–57 CKHS, Main Gymnasium University of Regina (3)
2014[9] Windsor Lancers (4) Saint Mary's Huskies 71–45 St. Denis Centre Fieldhouse University of Windsor (2)
2015[10] Windsor Lancers (5) McGill Martlets 60–47 PEPS Gymnasium Laval University (4)
2016[11] Saskatchewan Huskies Ryerson Rams 85–71 Richard J. Currie Centre University of New Brunswick (3)
2017[12] McGill Martlets Laval Rouge et Or 66–55 CARSA Performance Gym University of Victoria (2)
2018[13] Carleton Ravens Saskatchewan Huskies 69–48 CKHS, Main Gymnasium University of Regina (4)
2019[14] McMaster Marauders Laval Rouge et Or 70–58 Mattamy Athletic Centre Ryerson University
2020[15] Saskatchewan Huskies (2) Brock Badgers 82–64 TD Place Arena Carleton University
2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[5] Athletic and Recreation Centre (ARC) Queen's University
2022[16] Ryerson Rams Winnipeg Wesmen 70–48 Athletic and Recreation Centre (ARC) Queen's University
2023[17] Carleton Ravens (2) Queen's Gaels 71–59 Sullivan Field House Cape Breton University
2024[18] Carleton Ravens (3) Saskatchewan Huskies 70–67 Saville Community Sports Centre University of Alberta (3)
2025[19] Thunderbird Sports Centre
UBC War Memorial Gymnasium		 University of British Columbia
2026 PEPS Gymnasium Laval University (5)
2027[20] Scotiabank Centre Acadia University

Title by school

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Appearances Team Conference Wins Losses Win % MRC MRA
14 Victoria Vikes Canada West 9 5 .643 2003 2003
10 Winnipeg Wesmen Canada West 3 7 .300 1995 2022
9 Laurentian Lady Vees OUA 7 2 .778 1991 1991
8 UBC Thunderbirds Canada West 6 2 .750 2008 2012
6 Windsor Lancers OUA 5 1 .833 2015 2015
6 Manitoba Bisons Canada West 3 3 .500 1997 1998
6 Regina Cougars Canada West 1 5 .167 2001 2013
5 Simon Fraser Clan[A] Canada West 5 0 1.000 2010 2010
4 Bishop's Gaiters RSEQ 2 2 .500 1984 1984
4 Saskatchewan Huskies Canada West 2 2 .500 2020 2020
4 Calgary Dinos Canada West 1 3 .250 1989 2000
3 Carleton Ravens OUA 3 0 1.000 2024 2024
3 Toronto Varsity Blues OUA 1 2 .333 1986 1996
3 Alberta Pandas Canada West 1 2 .667 1999 2007
3 UNB Red Bloomers AUS 0 3 .000 None 1976
3 Laval Rouge et Or RSEQ 0 3 .000 None 2019
2 McGill Martlets RSEQ 1 1 .500 2017 2017
2 Ryerson Rams OUA 1 1 .500 2022 2022
1 McMaster Marauders OUA 1 0 1.000 2019 2019
1 Dalhousie Tigers AUS 0 1 .000 None 1980
1 UPEI Panthers AUS 0 1 .000 None 1989
1 York Yeowomen OUA 0 1 .000 None 1997
1 Cape Breton Capers AUS 0 1 .000 None 2006
1 Saint Mary's Huskies AUS 0 1 .000 None 2014
1 Brock Badgers OUA 0 1 .000 None 2020
1 Queen's Gaels OUA 0 1 .000 None 2023

^ A. The Simon Fraser Clan were members of the CIS (now U Sports) from 2001 to 2010.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "CBC Sports to broadcast U Sports national championships for next 4 years". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. September 20, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "U Sports Hoops Women's Basketball Championship Game Results". usportshoops.ca. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "Bronze Baby History". usports.ca. U Sports. 18 July 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  4. ^ "U Sports History". usports.ca. U Sports. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "U Sports unable to offer national championships in winter 2021". usports.ca. U Sports. October 15, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  6. ^ "Playing Regulations - Women's Basketball" (PDF). usports.ca. U Sports. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  7. ^ "2011 CIS women's basketball championship: Lancers, Huskies lead wide-open field" Canada Varsity. Retrieved 2014-10-22.
  8. ^ a b "Clan Wins Back-to-Back CIS Titles". Simon Fraser University. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  9. ^ "Lancers win fourth-straight Bronze Baby". University of Windsor. 2014-03-16. Retrieved 27 Mar 2014.
  10. ^ "Lancers win fourth-straight Bronze Baby". University of Windsor. 2015-03-15. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  11. ^ "Huskies win first Bronze Baby, CIS women's basketball title". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. 2016-03-20. Retrieved 2017-04-03.
  12. ^ "Martlets basketball: National champs! : McGill Reporter". publications.mcgill.ca. Retrieved 2017-04-03.
  13. ^ Pringle, Josh (2018-03-12). "Carleton Ravens win U SPORTS Title". Ottawa. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  14. ^ Harrigan, Scott (2019-03-12). "McMaster Marauders grabs history with its first Bronze Baby !". ISN. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
  15. ^ "Oh, Bronze Baby: Saskatchewan Huskies crowned U Sports Final 8 women's basketball champions". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
  16. ^ "U Sports Calendar". usports.ca. U Sports. June 17, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  17. ^ "Cape Breton Capers to host U Sports Women's Basketball Final 8 in 2023". gocapersgo.ca. Cape Breton Capers. October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  18. ^ "U Sports awards 2024 women's basketball Final 8 to University of Alberta". U Sports. November 29, 2022.
  19. ^ "U SPORTS awards 2025 women's and men's basketball Final 8 to UBC". U Sports. February 9, 2023.
  20. ^ "Halifax to host four U SPORTS national championships". usports.ca. U Sports. September 25, 2024.
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