The Maritime Women’s Basketball Association is all about teamwork.
But as the MWBA prepares for its marquee PRO•LINE Legacy Cup championship this weekend in Fredericton, the league announced its first and second all-star teams for the 2025 season.
The MWBA will announce its MVP Friday morning.
Five players earned first team all-star honours and another quintet were selected to the second team.
All seven organizations contributed three players to be considered for all-star and MVP selections. Teams could not vote for their own players and votes were garnered on a one to 10 basis, with the latter total carrying the most weight.
Two members of the regular season champion Lake City 56ers and Miramichi Her-Icanes joined one player from the Fredericton Freeze on the first all-star ballot.
Courtney Donaldson and MacKenzie Smith of the Dartmouth/Cole Harbour-based 56ers were selected. They joined Lauren Rainford and Grace Lancaster of the Her-Icanes and 19-year-old Bailey Russell represents the Freeze on the first team.
The second team saw a pair of Freeze teammates, two Halifax Thunder players and a player from the Halifax Hornets.
Eva Tumwine and Allie McCarthy are representing Fredericton. Alaina McMillan and Sami Russell earned their spots from the Thunder, joining Amanda Pearcey of the Hornets.
‘We saw so much talent across the board this season, that it had to be difficult decisions from those casting ballots,’ said MWBA commissioner, Jen McKenzie of Dartmouth, NS. ‘We could have five all-star teams with the players available. Voting for all-star teams is always a difficult task, but we’re incredibly pleased as a league how well everything on the floor went this season. Those players who are playing in championship play this weekend can enjoy their personal selections for a few minutes and then get back to preparing for what we anticipate to be a wonderful tournament.’
The PROLINE Legacy Cup unfolds Saturday at the Richard J. Currie Center on the campus of the University of New Brunswick.
Lake City enters as top seed and plays host Fredericton at 5 p.m.
Miramichi, which tied Lake City atop the regular season standings at 8-2 and settled for second after falling in head-to-head play with the Sixers, enters as seed No. 2. That earns the ‘Canes a 7:30 p.m. date with the Thunder.
The winners advance to Sunday’s 3 p.m. final.
The third place game goes at 12:30 p.m.
Tickets are available for pre-order by visiting goredsgo.ca or you can purchase them at the RJCC box office, beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Weekend passes are $30 for all three games for adults and $25 for seniors and students. Day passes are $15 and $12. Children under 14 are admitted free.
Please note there are surcharges with ticket purchases and there are no single game tickets available.