One of the Maritime Women’s Basketball Association’s best players is leaving the league.
But only leaving as a player.
Karla Yepez will hang up her playing sneakers for coaching shoes when the MWBA opens its fourth season in early May.
Yepez will guide the Halifax Hornets after spending two seasons in the league as an elite player following an accomplished career as a USPORTS player with the University of Prince Edward Island Panthers.
She will replace Augy Jones at the helm of the Hornets.
‘It is absolutely fantastic to see a person of Karla’s quality want to remain in our league and continue to develop as a coach at a high level,’ said MWBA commissioner, Jen McKenzie of Dartmouth. ‘We have all watched her play in our league and at the Atlantic University Sport level and we know her love of basketball. This is another example of our league creating opportunity for women as coaches, players, officials and more.’
Yepez arrived in North America from Quota, Ecuador, the guard earning AUS rookie team honours in 2016-17 and second team all-star in 2022-23.
She had played four seasons with UPEI including its memorable AUS title run and USPORTS bronze medal in 2019-20. Yepez left UPEI after four years before returning to action in the MWBA with the Windsor Stars which would later transfer to Dartmouth/Cole Harbour last season as the Lake City 56ers.
Yepez spent last season with the MWBA champion Halifax Thunder before moving to city rival Hornets.
She appeared in 95 games for the Panthers, amassing 743 points, 536 rebounds, 134 steals and 71 blocks.
Yepez ranks 24th all-time in MWBA scoring with 175 points, averaging 7.6 points per game between Windsor and Thunder.
She is not a stranger to the coaching ranks.
The versatile Yepez has spent the past seasons as associate coach with Dalhousie University Tigers after one season as an assistant in UPEI during 2021-22.
(MWBA statistical date courtesy Allan April)
– Karla Yepez in action for Halifax Thunder (DWinston Photo)