QUEBEC CITY, Que. - Logan Reider scored 19 points to lead the Saskatchewan Huskies to a 77-68 victory over the University of New Brunswick in the championship game of the 2026 SunLife U SPORTS Women's Final 8, presented by Michelob and Hilton Québec, Sunday at the Amphithéâtre Desjardins.
With the win, Saskatchewan captures the Bronze Baby trophy for the second straight year and the fourth time in program history. The Huskies close the season with a remarkable 30-1 record, including a perfect 20-0 run through Canada West play, to record the best season in program history.
"I'm just floored to be able to do this and to know how hard it is to do it and then to do it back-to-back," said head coach
Lisa Thomaidis. "To overcome that loss in the [Canada West] semi-final and be able to bounce back and know that we were capable is really special."
"We had to do it a different way for sure. Our offense struggled our first two days and I thought our defense got us through. Then today offense got going, but then we slowed down that third quarter, but credit to UNB, they made some adjustments and that slowed us down. I thought just our experience showed we didn't get too rattled. We've got some of the best players in the country on our team, so they're going to make plays when the going's tough. So credit to them, they were incredible."
Reider, named Saskatchewan's player of the game, shot 7-for-15 from the field and knocked down four three-pointers to pace the Huskies' offence. Her 12-point second quarter helped Saskatchewan seize control of the game before halftime.
Maya Flindall added 17 points and
Ella Murphy Wiebe chipped in with 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds as the Huskies displayed the balanced scoring that carried them throughout the tournament.
Murphy Wiebe's strong play over the three games earned her tournament most valuable player honours. She was joined on the championship all-star team by teammate
Gage Grassick.
Saskatchewan set the tone early in the final, jumping out to a 25-13 lead after the opening quarter behind sharp perimeter shooting and aggressive defence that forced several UNB turnovers.
The Huskies extended the advantage in the second quarter as Reider and Flindall combined for key baskets, pushing the lead to as many as 15 points before Saskatchewan carried a 44-32 edge into halftime.
UNB responded in the third quarter with a determined push. Kylee Speedy, who was named player of the game for the Atlantic champions, scored several key baskets and helped cut the deficit to single digits as the Atlantic champions attempted to rally.
Saskatchewan's defence held firm, however, and the Huskies regained momentum in the fourth quarter. Grassick scored six late points while Murphy Wiebe controlled the glass to help Saskatchewan pull away.
"Well, for starters, this is my last year, so I'm feeling a lot of emotions right now, and I'm just really proud of our team," said tournament MVP
Ella Murphy Wiebe. "We've worked so hard to get to where we are, and to go back-to-back says something, and I'm just so proud of us. I'm lucky to be coached by the best coaches in Canada and in the world, so I'm just really grateful to be surrounded by great people."
Murphy Wiebe was one of five student-athletes playing in the final game of their career, with Grassick, Téa DeMong, Andread Dodig and
Anna Maelde also closing out their careers as national champions.
"I think the five of us who are graduating this year have set so many standards and I guess you can say records throughout our careers and I think it is a testament of Lisa and the coaching staff," said Grassick, who took home tournament all-star honours for the second consecutive season. "It's been an absolute honor and privilege to play for her for the past six years and I couldn't have been more grateful and I wouldn't have changed it for the world. At the end of the day it comes down to her and what she develops in the program."
