It’s almost game time.
Yes!
The Maritime Women’s Basketball Association prepares for its fourth season of operation early next month with seven teams pursuing the PRO•LINE Legacy Cup championship.
That championship, which will feature four teams, will be held at the sparkling Richard J. Currie Center on the campus of the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton.
‘All systems are go and we are anxiously awaiting the opening tip and slate of games,’ said MWBA commissioner, Jen McKenzie of Dartmouth, NS, entering her second year at the helm. ‘Our teams have been running training camps and tryouts and preparing for what we firmly believe will be another amazingly competitive year.’
The league’s two-time reigning champion Halifax Thunder join Nova Scotia rivals Halifax Hornets and Lake City 56ers of Dartmouth/Cole Harbour. Fredericton Freeze, Miramichi Hericanes, Moncton Mystics and Port City Fog of Saint John are New Brunswick entrants.
The league plays a 10-game regular season, but will break into provincial play for the right to attend the PRO•LINE Legacy Cup which will be held June 21 to 22.
The 56ers will hit the road to New Brunswick for their opening weekend.
Last year’s MWBA finalist will face the Mystics in a 7 p.m. clash at Crandall University on May 3. Lake City then makes it way to Miramichi for a May 4 date, a 1 p.m. outing at Miramichi Valley High School where a fullhouse is expected.
Opening tip is set for 2 p.m.
Other opening games have the all-Halifax battle on May 3 with the Thunder welcoming the Mystics to Saint Mary’s University.
Fredericton hosts Highway 7 rival Port City on May 4 at 1 p.m. at the Lady Beaverbrook Gymnasium on the UNB campus.
News ‘N Notes
The MWBA is proud to see Royale return as the league’s founding partner for 2025.
‘Royale was a founding partner of the MWBA in 2022 and has been with us every step of the way,’ said McKenzie. ‘We have developed a tremendous relationship with such an outstanding partner. It means a ton Royale is part of the MWBA family and playing such a massive role.’
Cushman-Wakefield Atlantic is also back in the partnership stable.
PRO•LINE returns for its second season and is playing a key role in Legacy Cup championship weekend.
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Former New Brunswick high school star and NBA Academy player Clancy MacIntyre will suit up with the MWBA’s Port City Fog this season. MacIntyre recently transferred to University of New Brunswick Reds from St. Francis Xavier University X-Women in the Atlantic University Sport conference.
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Longtime Basketball New Brunswick technical director Neil Smith retired from coaching two years ago. He is back on the sidelines now, named head coach of the Miramichi Hericanes. Smith ran the Hericanes through their first team workout earlier this month as the organization prepares for its second season. Reigning league MVP Lauren Rainford is back in Miramichi colours this season.
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An injury had sidelined MWBAer Elizabeth Iseyemi from her pro team in Germany. The outstanding forward, who starred for Lake City last season, is with Heidelberg in the Germany-2.Bundesliga. She has appeared in 17 games, averaging 24.4 minute per outing and 14.6 points per game. Iseyemi was back in the lineup for Heidelberg on April 19 in a quarter-final match in a tough 60-47 round one loss to Osnabrueck BBC. She had a dozen points and six rebounds in the setback. She played 25 minutes and was 4-for-11 in field goals while going 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Iseyemi collected 14 points and seven boards in a 65-59 win over Eimsbuetteler in earlier post-season play.
Another MWBAer, Alaina McMillan, who was MVP of last year’s PRO•LINE Legacy Cup with the Thunder, played her first season in France where she excelled with Arras Pays d’Artois in the France NF3 division.
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Lake City is anticipating playing some selected games at the Zatzman SportsPlex in Dartmouth, using an arena setting. 56ers officials will announce soon which games will be played at the arena.
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Moncton will use Crandall University as its main home this year after three successful seasons at Harrison Trimble High School.
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Port City will call the University of New Brunswick at Saint John its home for the third consecutive season. The Fog’s inaugural season saw games played at Saint John High School.
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Former league standout Karla Yepez has retired from playing and will be the head coach of the Hornets this season. She dressed for city rival Thunder last year.
(Bob Pettipas Photo)