The adrenalin is over.
An action-packed weekend put an exclamation point on a tremendous fourth season of the Maritime Women’s Basketball Association.
Time to catch collective breath of all teams, managers and MWBA administration.
But just for a minute or so,
‘There is so much that goes into the operation of the MWBA and so many hands at work to ensure we try and stay on the same page and continue to push for league sustainability,’ said league commissioner, Jen McKenzie of Dartmouth, NS. ‘Our PRO•LINE Legacy Cup weekend was amazing. It truly put a cap on an excellent year. Chatting with people during the final weekend and you realize how high the skill-set level in the MWBA is. There are no signs of slowing down.’
The Miramichi Her-Icanes made a bit of league history, bringing the PRO•LINE Legacy Cup to the Province of New Brunswick for the first time. Through three seasons, the mug stayed in Nova Scotia.
‘We talked a little about that in terms of creating balance and it was great to see us make a mark in only our second season,’ said Miramichi head coach, Neil Smith. ‘We have players from all over, but we play in a basketball crazy city and we know how much love there is for the game in New Brunswick. The season and the final weekend was everything anyone could have asked for.’
Miramichi used overtime to defeat the regular season champion Lake City 56ers of Dartmouth/Cole Harbour, 78-68, in a stirring final.
The ‘Canes, which tied Lake City atop the standings with 8-2 records, defeated two-time reigning champion Halifax Thunder while the 56ers downed Fredericton Freeze in semifinal action.
So, what’s next for the MWBA?
Plenty.
Expansion continues to be top of mind to create an eight-team league, leaving open the possibility of intra-provincial play.
There are four teams in New Brunswick with the ‘Canes, Freeze, Moncton Mystics and Port City Fog of Saint John. Lake City and Thunder joins Halifax Hornets as the three Bluenose Province entities.
A deadline of Oct. 17 has been established on expansion.
‘We literally started the day after championship weekend to begin making preparations for 2026 and our fifth anniversary season,’ said McKenzie. ‘We have asked internal and external candidates on what they would like to see the league become as it continues to evolve. We had a big transition of players this season, watching veterans and fan favourites retire, but so much new talent exploded across the league. We are looking to make some league alterations, but we won’t make change for the sake of change. Since Day 1, we have gone slowly. That won’t change.’
Some items that have already been discussed include the aforementioned expansion hopes, potential Elam Ending, the return of tournament style weekends, a pre-season event of some sort and more.
‘We’re looking at many things and see if something sticks,’ said McKenzie. ‘It’s great to have so much fan and sponsorship contributions, too. People love our league and want to have a say in what the MWBA will be doing moving forward.’
The league’s Annual General Meeting will be in September at a date to be determined.
McKenzie is also at the end of her two-year term.
She will take a few weeks to see if a return to office is in her future.
‘I’ve been a part of the MWBA since the first day and I fully plan on staying involved in one capacity or another,’ she said. ‘This was all new to me two years ago when I was named commissioner. It’s been a huge learning curve, but one that I’ve embraced. I’ve learned a ton.’
If you have ideas you would like the MWBA to consider, don’t hesitate emailing mwba.league@gmail.com
– Miramichi’s Katie Donahoe brings the PRO•LINE Legacy Cup to her teammates. (Fran Harris Photo)