U Sports women's basketball championship

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 womens'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.

U Sports women's basketball championship
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2023 U Sports Women's Basketball Championship
SportBasketball
Founded1972 (1972)
Inaugural season1972
Organising bodyU Sports
No. of teams8
CountryCanada
Most recent
champion(s)		Carleton Ravens (2nd title)
Most titlesVictoria Vikes (9)
TV partner(s)CBC[1]
Official websiteusports.ca/en/sports/basketball/w

Seventeen different schools have won the tournament. The University of Victoria have the most tournament wins with 9 championships. Laurentian University has 7 championships, the University of British Columbia has 6 championships, the University of Windsor, and Simon Fraser University have 5 champuisonhips, the University of Winnipeg, and the University of Manitoba have won 3 championships, Bishop's University, the University of Saskatchewan, and Carleton University have won 2 championships. Seven programs are tied with one national championship.

History

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

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
Year Winner[3][2] Runner-up Score Venue Host
1972UBC ThunderettesUNB Red Bloomers74–69–University of Saskatchewan
1973UBC Thunderettes (2)Manitoba Bisonettes50–30–McGill University
1974UBC Thunderettes (3)UNB Red Bloomers67–53–University of Winnipeg
1975Laurentian Lady VeesUBC Thunderettes59–49–University of New Brunswick
1976Laurentian Lady Vees (2)UNB Red Bloomers50–42–University of Guelph
1977Laurentian Lady Vees (3)Winnipeg Wesmenettes61–50–University of Calgary
1978Laurentian Lady Vees (4)Winnipeg Lady Wesmen69–51–University of Calgary (2)
1979Laurentian Lady Vees (5)Victoria Vikettes61–53 (2OT)–University of Regina
1980Victoria VikettesDalhousie Tigers64–59–Dalhousie University
1981Victoria Vikettes (2)Bishop's Gaiters61–59–University of Guelph (2)
1982Victoria Vikettes (3)Bishop's Gaiters70–55–University of Saskatchewan (2)
1983Bishop's GaitersVictoria Vikettes64–49–University of Manitoba
1984Bishop's Gaiters (2)Winnipeg Lady Wesmen70–62–University of Manitoba (2)
1985Victoria Vikettes (4)Laurentian Lady Vees71–52–Bishop's University
1986Toronto Varsity BluesVictoria Vikettes68–63–University of Winnipeg (2)
1987Victoria Vikettes (5)Laurentian Lady Vees54–52–Laval University
1988Manitoba BisonsCalgary Dinosaurs61–55–University of Lethbridge
1989Calgary DinosaursUPEI Panthers92–55–Laurentian University
1990Laurentian Lady Vees (6)Calgary Dinosaurs74–65–University of Toronto
1991[7]Laurentian Lady Vees (7)Regina Cougars79–72 (OT)–Laval University (2)
1992Victoria Vikes (6)Winnipeg Wesmen64–51–University of Prince Edward Island
1993Winnipeg WesmenVictoria Vikes70–63–University of Victoria
1994Winnipeg Wesmen (2)Toronto Varsity Blues90–76–University of Calgary (3)
1995Winnipeg Wesmen (3)Manitoba Bisons72–61–Lakehead University
1996Manitoba Bisons (2)Toronto Varsity Blues81–77 (OT)–Laval University (3)
1997Manitoba Bisons (3)York Yeowomen73–62–Lakehead University (2)
1998Victoria Vikes (7)Manitoba Bisons66–61–Lakehead University (3)
1999Alberta PandasVictoria Vikes54–46–Lakehead University (4)
2000Victoria Vikes (8)Calgary Dinos57–41–University of Alberta
2001Regina CougarsAlberta Pandas94–85–University of Alberta (2)
2002Simon Fraser ClanLaval Rouge et Or66–51–McMaster University
2003Victoria Vikes (9)Winnipeg Wesmen60–51–McMaster University (2)
2004UBC Thunderbirds (4)Regina Cougars60–53–University of Winnipeg (3)
2005Simon Fraser Clan (2)Winnipeg Wesmen70–60–University of Winnipeg (4)
2006UBC Thunderbirds (5)Cape Breton Capers56–53–University of New Brunswick (2)
2007Simon Fraser Clan (3)Alberta Pandas72–68–Memorial University of Newfoundland
2008UBC Thunderbirds (6)Regina Cougars67–46Physical Activity Complex (PAC)University of Saskatchewan (3)
2009[8]Simon Fraser Clan (4)Regina Cougars68–62CKHS, Main GymnasiumUniversity of Regina (2)
2010[8]Simon Fraser Clan (5)Windsor Lancers77–56Burridge GymnasiumMcMaster University (3)
2011Windsor LancersSaskatchewan Huskies63–49St. Denis Centre FieldhouseUniversity of Windsor
2012Windsor Lancers (2)UBC Thunderbirds69–53Jack Simpson GymnasiumUniversity of Calgary (4)
2013Windsor Lancers (3)Regina Cougars66–57CKHS, Main GymnasiumUniversity of Regina (3)
2014[9]Windsor Lancers (4)Saint Mary's Huskies71–45St. Denis Centre FieldhouseUniversity of Windsor (2)
2015[10]Windsor Lancers (5)McGill Martlets60–47PEPS GymnasiumLaval University (4)
2016[11]Saskatchewan HuskiesRyerson Rams85–71Richard J. Currie CentreUniversity of New Brunswick (3)
2017[12]McGill MartletsLaval Rouge et Or66–55CARSA Performance GymUniversity of Victoria (2)
2018[13]Carleton RavensSaskatchewan Huskies69–48CKHS, Main GymnasiumUniversity of Regina (4)
2019[14]McMaster Marauders Laval Rouge et Or 70–58 Mattamy Athletic CentreRyerson University
2020[15]Saskatchewan Huskies (2)Brock Badgers82–64TD Place ArenaCarleton University
2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[5] Athletic and Recreation Centre (ARC)Queen's University
2022[16]Ryerson RamsWinnipeg Wesmen70–48Athletic and Recreation Centre (ARC)Queen's University
2023[17]Carleton Ravens (2)Queen's Gaels71–59Sullivan Field HouseCape Breton University
2024[18]Saville Community Sports CentreUniversity of Alberta (3)
2025[19]Thunderbird Sports Centre
UBC War Memorial Gymnasium		University of British Columbia

Title by school
Appearances Team Conference Wins Losses Win % MRC MRA
14 Victoria Vikes Canada West 95.64320032003
10 Winnipeg Wesmen Canada West 37.30019952022
9 Laurentian Lady Vees OUA 72.77819911991
8 UBC Thunderbirds Canada West 62.75020082012
6 Windsor Lancers OUA 51.83320152015
6 Manitoba Bisons Canada West 33.50019971998
6 Regina Cougars Canada West 15.16720012013
5 Simon Fraser Clan[A] Canada West 501.00020102010
4 Bishop's Gaiters RSEQ 22.50019841984
4 Saskatchewan Huskies Canada West 22.50020202020
4 Calgary Dinos Canada West 13.25019892000
3 Toronto Varsity Blues OUA 12.33319861996
3 Alberta Pandas Canada West 12.66719992007
3 UNB Red Bloomers AUS 03.000None1976
3 Laval Rouge et Or RSEQ 03.000None2019
2 Carleton Ravens OUA 201.00020232023
2 McGill Martlets RSEQ 11.50020172017
2 Ryerson Rams OUA 11.50020222022
1 McMaster Marauders OUA 101.00020192019
1 Dalhousie Tigers AUS 01.000None1980
1 UPEI Panthers AUS 01.000None1989
1 York Yeowomen OUA 01.000None1997
1 Cape Breton Capers AUS 01.000None2006
1 Saint Mary's Huskies AUS 01.000None2014
1 Brock Badgers OUA 01.000None2020
1 Queen's Gaels OUA 01.000None2023

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

See also

References
  1. "CBC Sports to broadcast U Sports national championships for next 4 years". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. September 20, 2021.
  2. "U Sports Hoops Women's Basketball Championship Game Results". usportshoops.ca. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  3. "Bronze Baby History". usports.ca. U Sports. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  4. "U Sports History". usports.ca. U Sports. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  5. "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. "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.
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