The 2025-26 playoffs have been a sequence of milestones for the Dinos women's basketball team. With a 63-57 victory over the UBC Thunderbirds in Saturday’s conference final at UBC’s War Memorial Gym, Calgary captured its ninth Canada West banner and will bring the Valerie Gersberger Trophy back to campus for the first time in a quarter of a century.
The championship title capped off a dominant playoff run for the Dinos, who one week earlier accomplished something no other team in the nation had done in 436 days — defeat the top-ranked Saskatchewan Huskies. In the 436 days since that loss, Saskatchewan posted two perfect regular seasons, captured the 2025 Canada West banner, and won the U SPORTS title.
But now, Calgary stands alone atop Canada West.
Slaying the Streak
Calgary’s 61-58 semifinal win over Saskatchewan was as gritty as it was historic, with the Dinos displaying discipline and commitment to their defensive strategy throughout the game. The Huskies entered the contest riding a 52-game win streak, with their last loss — ironically — coming against the Dinos to open the 2024-25 conference season. After a tightly contested opening quarter that ended with the Huskies holding a 2-point edge over the Dinos, an 8-0 second-quarter surge gave Calgary momentum. Canada West Defensive Player of the Year Amélie Collin dropped back-to-back three-pointers to put the Dinos ahead by seven late in the half. But the defending Canada West and U SPORTS Champions would not go down without a fight, quickly responding to trail by just one at halftime. And the back-and-forth battle continued through the third, tied 47-47 heading into the final frame.
In the final minutes, the Dinos didn’t rely on shot-making — they relied on stops. Every possession became a defensive stand with the identity they had built all season polished under the pressure of such a high-stakes contest. Despite some missed free throws that kept the Huskies within striking distance, the Dinos locked down defensively in the closing seconds — swarming Saskatchewan’s top scorer to prevent a potential game-tying three and secure the program-defining win.
Collin and Christine Geraldo led Calgary with 15 points apiece, while Kourtney Oss posted 11 points and 11 rebounds for her second double-double of the postseason. The victory not only punched Calgary’s ticket to the Canada West Final but also secured a berth in the U SPORTS Final 8 national championship tournament.
Finishing the Job
With their Final 8 berth secured in Laval, QC, the Dinos turned their focus to a banner that had eluded them for 25 years.
The mission was clear: Close out the 2025-26 CanWest season on a high note against a hungry UBC Thunderbirds who fell short to the Huskies last year.
Facing UBC for the conference crown, Calgary found itself in another defensive grind. The Thunderbirds held a narrow 30-28 halftime advantage after the first half, but the second half belonged to the Dinos as a fourth-quarter surge flipped the momentum permanently, and Calgary's composure at the free-throw line sealed the game for the visiting team.
While Calgary shot 9-of-12 from the line, their defence limited second-chance opportunities and forced timely stops. Collin, who recently became Canada West’s all-time steals leader, added four more takeaways that directly converted to four assists and nine points, which were crucial to the Dinos' victory.
Game MVP Pollyanna Storie led the way offensively with 16 points. Oss added 13 points, eight rebounds, two blocks, and a steal to her postseason totals, while Geraldo and Gajic chipped in nine points each. Geraldo also grabbed a career-high seven rebounds and sealed the victory by blocking UBC’s final shot.
UBC was paced by 19 points from First Team Canada West All-Star Olivia Weekes, and a season-high contribution of 14 from Sara Toneguzzi, but Calgary’s pressure and composure proved decisive down the stretch.
Mission No. 3: U SPORTS Final 8 and a Legacy to Fulfill
With Saturday's win, this marks the ninth conference title for the Dinos women's basketball team, but that isn't enough for the Dinos, as their final and semi-final opponents will travel with them to Quebec with renewed rivalries embedded in the bracket.
As they await seeding for the championship tournament, the Dinos are aware of the battle ahead.
From ending a historic streak on the road to closing out a championship with poise, the Dinos’ playoff run was defined by resilience, defence, and belief — and it has returned Canada West supremacy to Calgary for the first time in a generation.