Abbotsford is set to be the centre of the Canada West women’s basketball universe next February.
CW officials announced on May 23 that the University of the Fraser Valley will host the 2024 women’s basketball championships, which run from Feb. 21 to 25.
The men’s and women’s tournaments have been moved to a single-site format for the first time, with the University of Manitoba being named the men’s tournament hosts for 2023-24.
Steve Tuckwood, UFV’s director of athletics and campus recreation, stated the event will help showcase the school’s athletic culture and is also an opportunity to celebrate the institution’s 50th anniversary.
“Given the great history of high school and club basketball in the Fraser Valley, we plan to invite all ages to experience the excitement of competition in a smaller venue,” he said in a press release.
“Adding live entertainment, great food, participation of our alumni and our community, we will be able to showcase Canada West’s amazing athletes to our fans and the basketball enthusiasts we have in the Valley.”
The format for the tournament will see the top 12 teams during the regular season qualify, with the top four clubs earning byes into the quarterfinal round.
The UFV women’s basketball team should be one of the top contenders, as they finished last season at 14-6 and were nationally ranked for much of the season. The Cascades finished in fifth place, but were then eliminated in the quarterfinals by the Alberta Pandas.
All players from last year’s team are eligible to come back, including first team CW all-star Maddy Gobeil.
For more information, visit gocascades.ca.
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