U SPORTS unveils Top 100 women’s basketball players of the century
U SPORTS Staff
U SPORTS, the national brand of the university sports in Canada, has revealed the Top 100 women’s basketball players of the century.
In celebration of the centennial anniversary of U SPORTS women’s basketball, the Top 100 –chosen by a committee of U SPORTS women’s basketball coaches and partners – was unveiled beginning Thursday, Feb. 6, marking the 100th anniversary of the first Canadian university women’s contest between the Queen’s Gaels and McGill Martlets on Feb. 6, 1920.
McGill Martlets, 1919-1920
“This experience has shown me that there have been some amazing young women, who have represented our institutions well through basketball that have gone on to become remarkable women in life."
Ryan Thorne - President of the U SPORTS women’s basketball coaches’ association; Head Coach of the Martlets
“Selecting a group of individuals to represent excellence in your conference or league is always a difficult task,” said Ryan Thorne, president of the U SPORTS women’s basketball coaches’ association and head coach of the Martlets. “This experience has shown me that there have been some amazing young women, who have represented our institutions well through basketball that have gone on to become remarkable women in life. Just researching the stories and receiving the feedback from coaches of different eras, was eye opening. I am grateful to have been a part of this process and hope that the next century is just as fruitful.”
Kicking off the campaign, players who competed from 1930-1980 were initially announced, with players from the following four decades (1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s) revealed over the course of the following four weeks leading up to the 2020 U SPORTS Final 8 Basketball Championships in Ottawa. In addition, special features highlighting the incredible careers of select players are posted to USPORTS.ca. The campaign culminated with the announcement of UPEI's Jenna Mae Ellsworth as the 2020 Nan Copp Award winner as U SPORTS Player of the Year at the All-Canadian Gala on Wednesday night.
Members of the Top 100 were then honoured at the Final 8 during the national championship final, hosted jointly by Carleton University, University of Ottawa and Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group.
Top 100 U SPORTS Women’s Basketball Players of the Century
