The Maritime Women’s Basketball Association was built for numerous reasons.
Competition, yes. Development, yes.
But the MWBA also wanted to ensure it encompassed not only today’s players, but the women who seeded the path well before them.
Which is why the MWBA is thrilled to announce Joyce Slipp will be the Honourary Commissioner for the PRO•LINE Legacy Cup championship June 21-22 at the Richard J. Currie Center on the campus of the University of New Brunswick.
‘Joyce Slipp is synonymous with basketball, athletics, community and so much more,’ said MWBA commissioner, Jen Lloyd of Dartmouth, NS. ‘She was a role model for so many of us growing up and continues to be exactly that. When you think of her accomplishments as an athlete, coach, builder and supporter, it’s a mile long. Our present day players should be amazed at Joyce accomplished.’
Slipp certainly made her mark in the basketball world and it continues today.
When Canada’s first-ever women’s Olympic basketball team took to the legendary Montreal Forum court in 1976, it was lead by Slipp, our nation’s captain.
Think about that for a second.
Born in Moncton – her and her husband Dick have been in Fredericton for years – Slipp rose to the top of the national team as its leader and captain.
Not only did she excel in basketball, Slipp was also a star field hockey player.
The following is from her induction into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame:
When Canada’s first-ever women’s Olympic basketball team took to the legendary Montreal Forum court in 1976, it was lead by Slipp, our nation’s captain. This was the fulfillment of just one of her sporting dreams. For she also dreamed of one day travelling the world as an elite athlete, qualifying for a spot on Canada’s national field hockey team, winning regional track medals, achieving world championships as a master’s level athlete, being selected as her university’s athlete of the year, and coaching successfully at the local, provincial, national and international levels.
She is one of those very rare athletes who has achieved all of her dreams and has been able to live the life that she imagined – on the world’s basketball courts and field hockey pitches. Her successes are a self-portrait that has been autographed with excellence.
When her playing career finished in both sports, she took to coaching, guiding University of New Brunswick women’s team on the hardcourt and field hockey pitch.
‘Whenever Joyce was involved in anything, you knew you were getting her full commitment and that’s why so many athletes and teams excelled under her leadership,’ said McKenzie. ‘I know she has watched a lot of MWBA games and that means the world to all of us.’
Some Quick Slipp Facts
- Participated in the World Women’s Basketball Championship in 1970, Pan-American Games in 1971 and the World Student Games in 1973
- Captained the Canadian women’s basketball team at the 1976 Olympics
- Canada’s top scorer at the World Student Games in 1973 Maritime field hockey all-star while playing for UNB
- Inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1999
- Inducted into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000
The PRO•LINE Legacy Cup will feature four teams, all who will have survived provincial playoffs to punch their ticket to Fredericton.
Semifinals will see the top seed surviving from the regular season play the lowest remaining seed while second and third best records meet in the other June 21 semifinal.
Those games are set for 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Third place game is at 12:30 p.m. on June 22 and the final is set for 3 p.m.
It marks the second time the PRO•LINE Legacy Cup has been played in New Brunswick. The first one was 2023 at Saint John’s TD Station which set the MWBA attendance record with 1,209 on hand for the final game.
The inaugural championship was at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax in 2022. The event was held at Dalhousie University in Halifax last year.
Tournament passes are $30 for all four games for adults or $25 for seniors and students. Single day passes are $15 adults and $12 seniors/students. Children 14 and under are admitted free.