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While the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s basketball team played the waiting game after their exit from Canada West playoffs, the team’s national championship hopes remained alive.
The Huskies are currently in Quebec City, looking for redemption as a wildcard team at the U Sports nationals after a stunning loss to the Calgary Dinos in Canada West semi-final on Feb. 21.
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“This is, I think, the only time in the history of wildcards being appointed that there was no reason to have any doubt that we wouldn’t be selected,” Huskies head coach Lisa Thomaidis said.
Riding a 51-game win streak dating back to November of 2024, the Huskies came out flat in the conference semi-final, losing 61-58 to suffer their first loss of what was previously an undefeated season.
“Fifty games is a lot of games to win in a row,” Thomaidis said. “I think it’s human nature – you get a little complacent. Not that you’re consciously doing that, but when you look at the film in our game against Calgary, we weren’t the aggressors.”
The Huskies were selected for the lone at-large, wildcard berth for the U Sports women’s basketball championship tournament after leading in several statistics, including win-loss record, strength of schedule and the length of their playoff run.
Earning the fifth seed at nationals, the Huskies will square off against a conference rival in the UBC Thunderbirds on Thursday night, with a spot in U Sports semi-final on the line.
According to guard Logan Reider, the missed opportunity to defend their Canada West title is fueling the Huskies heading into this week’s tournament.
“We were in the gym 24/7 the last six days,” Reider said. “We decided that we’re going to work hard. We’re going to show that even though you lose in playoffs, that doesn’t mean you’re necessarily out of it for the running.”
From the start of the season, the Huskies were the favourites to repeat their U Sports championship, being ranked first in the country from opening tip-off right until their fateful semi-final loss to Calgary.
Despite coaching what she’s called an even deeper version of last year’s championship roster, Thomaidis said the past few weeks have included plenty of self-reflection.
“You rack together all these wins, but it’s the one loss that just sets you back,” Thomaidis said.
“It makes you really question a lot of things – what we’re doing, what we need to do, and what we need to change. At the same time you’re like, ‘This is a pretty darn good team.’”
Thursday’s quarter-final game will be a rematch of last year’s national semi-final tilt between the Huskies and Thunderbirds, which Saskatchewan won 85-63 before capturing the program’s third national championship one day later with an 85-66 win over the Carleton Ravens.
That experience is going to be a key part of the team’s game planning this week, according to Reider.
“We have been in this position before, and we were in this position last year,” Reider said.
“Going forward, we just have to rely on what has gotten us here. All the hard work, all the lifts, practices, shoots, everything that goes on behind the scenes.”
This will be the final week in a Huskies uniform for pending graduates Gage Grassick, Téa DeMong, Andrea Dodig, Anna Maelde and Ella Murphy Wiebe.
While not discussed in the locker room, the Huskies say they know what’s at stake with one final chance for this championship-caliber group to compete together.
“We’re just here to really enjoy the last – hopefully – three games that we get to play together as this team, and showcase the talent that we have,” Thomaidis said. “This is one of the all-time best teams, and we want to be able to put our best foot forward.”
The Huskies and Thunderbirds will tip-off at 5 p.m. on Thursday, with the winner advancing to U Sports semi-final on Saturday.
