Victoria Vikes women's basketball explained

Women:yes
Victoria Vikes women's basketball
University:University of Victoria
Conference:Canada West Universities Athletic Association
Location:Victoria, British Columbia
Coach:Carrie Watts
Tenure:1st
Arena:CARSA Building
Nickname:Vikes
Color1:Blue
Hex1:055EAA
Color2:Gold[1]
Hex2:FFC528
Usports Appearances:1985, 1986, 1987
Conference Tournament:1985, 1986, 1987
Conference Season:1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
H Pattern B:_thinsidesonwhite
H Body:041E42
H Shorts:041E42
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A Pattern B:_thinwhitesides
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The Victoria Vikes women's basketball team represent the University of Victoria in the Canada West Universities Athletic Association of U Sports women's basketball. The Vikes have captured the Bronze Baby, awarded to the U Sports National Champions, a record nine times. The McKinnon Building and Gym was the former home of the Vikes, and the basketball court itself was named "Ken and Kathy Shields Court" in 2002, honouring the Vikes legendary basketball coaches. [2] As a side note, the facility also hosted the 1993 CIS women's basketball national championships and a 1999 Vancouver Grizzlies NBA intra-squad game.

Kathy Shields, the most accomplished head coach in program history, captured 15 Canada West titles (1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000), along with eight national championships (1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1991, 1997, 1999). Of note, eight of her former players and assistant coaches became head coaches at the university level. Winning 320 out of 371 regular season games, Shields was bestowed the Order of Canada in 2016.

History

Beginning in 1975, the Vikes enjoyed a run of dominance that lasted until 1987. Enjoying 10 Canada West titles, along with five national titles, the 1990s would see a return to prominence. Highlighted by seven conference titles, including six consecutive, spanning from 1994 to 2000, the decade also saw three more national title performances.

Arriving at the University of Victoria in 1979, Tracie McAra would be part of a five-year run that saw the Vikes win 102 games, while losing only 14. Winning the Bronze Baby in three consecutive years (1980–82), the achievement complemented by four consecutive Canada West conference titles (1979–82).

Between 1985 and 1987, the Vikes would appear in three straight Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (now U Sports) gold medal games, winning in 1985 and 1987. During that stretch, Lori Clarke emerged as a Canada West conference All-Star and CIAU All-Canadian in every season. Winning the Nan Copp Player of the Year Award in 1987, it marked the crowning touch to her athletic sojourn at the University of Victoria.

The 1986-87 season would also mark a finale for Janet Fowler. In her final season, she averaged 17.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Earning the Most Valuable Player Award of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (now U Sports) Championship Tournament, the Vikes were 28-2 in conference play during the season.

Having played with the Vikes from 1981–85, hoisting the Bronze Baby twice, Sandy Espeseth returned for her final year in 1987-88. Leading the Vikes to a record of 18 wins, compared to 2 losses, Espeseth earned CIS First Team All-Canadian honors, averaging 12.4 points per game and a career-high 3.5 rebounds per game. Espeseth would later compete for Canada as a member of the National Cycling Team at the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics.

The Vikes captured their last Bronze Baby trophy in 2003. The first time that the program hosted the National Championships was in 1993, finishing as the runner-up versus the University of Winnipeg.

After eight seasons, head coach Dani Sinclair stepped down as head coach of the Vikes in March 2020. In her last season, the Vikes were 12-8. Throughout her career, the Vikes amassed 105 wins, compared only to 59 losses.[3]

In May 2021, the Vikes hired former UBC Thunderbirds women's basketball player and coach Carrie Watts to be their new head coach.[4] Having played for Debbie Huband at UBC, Watts captured the Bronze Baby trophy in 2004. Among her coaching achievements, Watts was an assistant coach for Team Canada at the 2019 Winter Universiade.

Season by season record

SeasonConf. RecordOverallConf. RankFinish
2019-20[5] 12-813-9 7thCanada West Tournament: Lost 2nd Round
(75-80 vs Saskatchewan)
2018-19[6] 12-813-106thCanada West Tournament: Lost Quarterfinals
(vs Regina)
2017-18[7] 17-417-62ndCanada West Tournament: Lost Quarterfinals
(vs Calgary)

Individual Leader Scoring

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MIN Minutes played
 FG Field-goals 3FG 3-point field-goals FT Free-throws
 PTS Points AVG Points per game

Recent U Sports Tournament results

International

Awards and honours

Canada West Awards

Canada West Hall of Fame

Canada West Hall of Fame - 2019 Inductee [10]

Canada West All-Stars

Player of the Year

Coach of the Year

U Sports Awards

All-Canadians

U Sports championship MVP

U Sports championship All-Star Team

Peter Ennis Award

Awarded to the Coach of the Year

Nan Copp Award

Awarded to the Player of the Year

Tracy MacLeod Award

Victoria Vikes Hall of Fame

University Awards

Top 100

In celebration of the centennial anniversary of U SPORTS women’s basketball, a committee of U SPORTS women’s basketball coaches and partners revealed a list of the Top 100 women's basketball players. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first Canadian university women’s contest between the Queen’s Gaels and McGill Martlets on Feb. 6, 1920, the list of the Top 100 was gradually revealed over four weeks.[17] A total of 11 Vikes were named to the Top 100.[18]

PlayerTeam(s)YearsAccolades
Mary Coutts Victoria 1965-67
Carol Turney-LoosSaint Mary's
Victoria
UBC
1973-80Recipient of the 1980 Nan Copp Award
Luanne Hebb Krawetz Victoria 1977-82
Tracie McAra-Sibbald Victoria 1978-83 Played for Canada in Basketball at the 1984 Summer Olympics
Sandy Espeseth Victoria 1981-88
Karla Karch Calgary
Victoria
1982-88
Lori Clarke Victoria 1984-87
Janet Fowler Victoria 1984-87
Calgary
Victoria
1985-91Played for Canada in Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Also played for Canada in Basketball at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Competed for the Charlotte Sting of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).[19]
Lisa Koop Victoria 1993-98
Kayla DykstraVictoria2006-11Recipient of the 2009 Nan Copp Award

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Graphic Standard Guidelines. University of Victoria. August 2, 2020.
  2. Web site: Vikes Active Living. vikesrec.ca/. 2021-07-09.
  3. News: Sinclair steps down from Vikes. govikesgo.com/. Tyler Lowey. 2020-03-10. 2021-06-30. en.
  4. News: Carrie Watts named head coach of UVic women's basketball program. gothunderbirds.ca/. 2021-05-14. 2021-06-30. en.
  5. News: 2019-20 Women's Basketball Standings. canadawest.org/. 2021-07-21. en.
  6. News: 2018-19 Women's Basketball Standings. canadawest.org/. 2021-07-29. en.
  7. News: 2017-18 Women's Basketball Standings. canadawest.org/. 2021-07-29. en.
  8. News: 2019-2020 Women's Basketball Overall Statistics. canadawest.org. 2021-04-16. en.
  9. News: Victoria Vikettes (1979-93) (WBB Team). canadawesthalloffame.org/. 2019-11-19. 2021-08-25. en.
  10. News: Kathy Shields (WBB Coach). canadawesthalloffame.org/. 2019-08-19. 2021-08-25. en.
  11. News: Lori Clarke. govikesgo.com/. 2021-06-30. en.
  12. News: Carol Turney-Loos (2017) - UVic Sports Hall of Fame . govikesgo.com . 2021-07-02. en.
  13. News: UVic Sports Hall of Fame - TEAM 1981-82 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL. govikesgo.com/. 2021-07-02. en.
  14. News: UVic Sports Hall of Fame - LUANNE KRAWETZ (HEBB). govikesgo.com/. 2021-07-02. en.
  15. News: UVic Sports Hall of Fame - KATHY SHIELDS . govikesgo.com/. 2021-07-02. en.
  16. News: Hedlin pockets President's Cup as Vikes split three other major awards. govikesgo.com/. Tyler Lowey. April 6, 2020. 2021-06-30. en.
  17. News: U SPORTS unveils Top 100 women’s basketball players of the century. saltwire.com. March 8, 2020. May 26, 2021. en.
  18. News: Eleven Vikes named to women's Top 100. govikesgo.com/. Tyler Lowey. 2020-03-08. 2021-06-30. en.
  19. Web site: Kelly Boucher . basketball-reference.com . July 1, 2016.