Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – No longer a young team trying to find its way in Canada West, the MacEwan Griffins women's basketball team is looking to contend for a playoff spot in 2025-26 with 12 returning players.
"We do look stronger than we've been in the past," said third-year forward Samantha Hickey, who is in the team's leadership group alongside point guard Allie Spenrath. "We are smarter than we've ever been and most of us have played together for three years.
"I'm really optimistic about the season, especially our matchups in the coming weeks. I definitely think we can compete harder than we have in the past, so I'm definitely looking forward to it."
Griffins fans will get their first look at the squad this weekend as MacEwan holds their home-opening weekend vs. Winnipeg on Friday (5 p.m.) and Saturday (1 p.m., both David Atkinson Gym, Canada West TV).
PURCHASE SEASON PASSES AND TICKETS HERE
MacEwan students get in free. Everybody gets in free on Saturday as part of MacEwan's Open House celebration
"It's exciting that the young group we had last year is just another year older with more experience under their belt," said Griffins head coach Katherine Adams, whose roster even has a fifth-year player this season – forward Sarah Burnell. "They had a great summer of training, so we're really excited about the growth that we've seen and are excited to see that showcase itself in the games coming up."
Yes, MacEwan is coming off a tough season-opening weekend in Saskatoon when they were blown out twice by the Huskies, but that's a program that's won nine of the last 14 Canada West championships and is coming off the 2025 U SPORTS national championship.
The rest of the competition they'll face aren't as otherworldly, including the Winnipeg Wesmen, who will certainly present a challenge, but are in their wheelhouse for some competitive basketball. The Wesmen were 7-13 last season, while the Griffins finished 1-19.
"We've always had close games with Winnipeg," said Hickey. "Last year we had two really close nail-biter games (72-67 and 66-57 losses in Winnipeg). So, I think it will be exciting.
"We just get older with the same group every year, which I think is a unique experience. We know their play style, we're prepared for the weekend – we've played against the same girls for a few years now.
"I'm just excited to see our growth compared to that. I really expect us to do well. We're really prepared and we've worked really hard the last few weeks, so I'm excited."
At 6-foot-2, Hickey was an essential big for the Griffins the past couple of seasons, so when she missed some time with injury last season (out of the lineup for eight games), MacEwan's lack of inside presence cost them. They have far more depth in that area this time – now boasting four players 6-foot or taller with Burnell (6-foot) and rookie additions Sadie Aalders and Ellie Mae Goerzen (both 6-foot-3). Toni Gordon (5-foot-10) also plays a big role.
The Griffins will certainly lean on the leadership that Samantha Hickey provides with teammates Paige Messier, Unity Obasuyi and Sofia Makinen resting their elbows on her on team photo day (Jefferson Hagen photo).
"That was a priority for us heading into this season was just getting a little bit bigger and adding some depth in our forward spine and I think we've certainly done that," said Adams.
"Adding Ellie Mae and Sadie to that mix, we've just gotten bigger and I think that's going to help us match up with teams that are bigger than us and adding depth in our forward position. But also just in training, having length and athleticism to play against is going to challenge our forwards to get better."
Of course, the Griffins' offence is run through 5-foot-11 forward/guard Unity Obasuyi, who is a threat to score anywhere on the court. She accounted for a program record 31.54 per cent of the team's offence last season. After scoring 31 of the Griffins' 65 points in two games against Saskatchewan last weekend, it's clear she will be the one to watch again.
"It's really special when you have a player who can score the way that she does, but it's a lot of pressure and responsibility to score at the rate she did last season, so it's certainly been a focus for us to get support around her and change things up," said Adams. "We've put some of her teammates in positions where they're able to lean on their strengths a little bit more.
"Hopefully we'll see that produce more scoring opportunities or at least have some other people step up into more prolific scoring roles, so teams don't have to focus as much on one player."
Lenora Hunter, centre, gets a lift from Morgan Clark, left, and Ayla Grady on the team's media day (Taylor Lafond photo).
Out on the perimeter, the Griffins have Spenrath, Ayla Grady and Lenora Hunter at point guard.
"Within that group, we're excited about just the diversity they bring," said Adams. "All bring different strengths to the table, so that's going to allow us, depending on our opponent and what we need at the time, to lean on different people at different points."
And at shooting guard, supporting Obasuyi, that's where players such as Paige Massier, Sofia Makinen, Ava Regier, Morgan Clark and Celine Quigley can chip in. Rookies Anita Tavaszi and Bella Kurz will look to contribute as well.
"All of those players are another year older and more experienced," said Adams. "We've seen some great growth in that group as a whole. I'm really excited about what they can do this year."
Time will tell if that puts them in playoff contention, but if the best teams are also the closest teams, as some say, the Griffins are on their way.
"We've played together for so long now it's like you know where your teammates are going to be before they're even there," said Hickey. "Having those one-on-one personal connections with every player on the team really helps. Our rookies have done a great job of getting to know everybody and developing that chemistry right off the bat. It's the whole team, which I really like.
"We're all super close this year, which really helps."
