# Victoria Vikes women's basketball

The Victoria Vikes women's basketball team represent the University of Victoria in the Canada West Universities Athletic Association of U Sports women's basketball. The Vikes have captured the Bronze Baby, awarded to the U Sports National Champions, a record nine times. The McKinnon Building and Gym was the former home of the Vikes, and the basketball court itself was named "Ken and Kathy Shields Court" in 2002, honouring the Vikes legendary basketball coaches. As a side note, the facility also hosted the 1993 CIS women's basketball national championships and a 1999 Vancouver Grizzlies NBA intra-squad game.
Kathy Shields, the most accomplished head coach in program history, captured 15 Canada West titles (1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000), along with eight national championships (1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1991, 1997, 1999). Of note, eight of her former players and assistant coaches became head coaches at the university level. Winning 320 out of 371 regular season games, Shields was bestowed the Order of Canada in 2016.

## History

Beginning in 1975, the Vikes enjoyed a run of dominance that lasted until 1987. Enjoying 10 Canada West titles, along with five national titles, the 1990s would see a return to prominence. Highlighted by seven conference titles, including six consecutive, spanning from 1994 to 2000, the decade also saw three more national title performances.
Arriving at the University of Victoria in 1979, Tracie McAra would be part of a five-year run that saw the Vikes win 102 games, while losing only 14. Winning the Bronze Baby in three consecutive years (1980–82), the achievement complemented by four consecutive Canada West conference titles (1979–82).
Between 1985 and 1987, the Vikes would appear in three straight Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (now U Sports) gold medal games, winning in 1985 and 1987. During that stretch, Lori Clarke emerged as a Canada West conference All-Star and CIAU All-Canadian in every season. Winning the Nan Copp Player of the Year Award in 1987, it marked the crowning touch to her athletic sojourn at the University of Victoria.
The 1986-87 season would also mark a finale for Janet Fowler. In her final season, she averaged 17.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Earning the Most Valuable Player Award of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (now U Sports) Championship Tournament, the Vikes were 28-2 in conference play during the season.
Having played with the Vikes from 1981–85, hoisting the Bronze Baby twice, Sandy Espeseth returned for her final year in 1987-88. Leading the Vikes to a record of 18 wins, compared to 2 losses, Espeseth earned CIS First Team All-Canadian honors, averaging 12.4 points per game and a career-high 3.5 rebounds per game. Espeseth would later compete for Canada as a member of the National Cycling Team at the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics.
The Vikes captured their last Bronze Baby trophy in 2003. The first time that the program hosted the National Championships was in 1993, finishing as the runner-up versus the University of Winnipeg.
After eight seasons, head coach Dani Sinclair stepped down as head coach of the Vikes in March 2020. In her last season, the Vikes were 12-8. Throughout her career, the Vikes amassed 105 wins, compared only to 59 losses.
In May 2021, the Vikes hired former UBC Thunderbirds women's basketball player and coach Carrie Watts to be their new head coach. Having played for Debbie Huband at UBC, Watts captured the Bronze Baby trophy in 2004. Among her coaching achievements, Watts was an assistant coach for Team Canada at the 2019 Winter Universiade.

### Season by season record

| Season | Conf. Record | Overall | Conf. Rank | Finish |
| 2019-20 | 12-8 | 13-9 | 7th | Canada West Tournament: Lost 2nd Round (75-80 vs Saskatchewan) |
| 2018-19 | 12-8 | 13-10 | 6th | Canada West Tournament: Lost Quarterfinals (vs Regina) |
| 2017-18 | 17-4 | 17-6 | 2nd | Canada West Tournament: Lost Quarterfinals (vs Calgary) |

### Individual Leader Scoring

| Season | Player | GP | Min | FG | 3FG | FT | Pts | Avg | Canada West Rank |
| 2019-20 | Ashlyn Day | 20 | 567 | 127 | 16 | 68 | 338 | 16.9 | 8th |

### Recent U Sports Tournament results

| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1982 CIAU national championship | | First Round Semi-Finals Gold Medal Game | University of Toronto University of Winnipeg Bishop's Gaiters | W 81-31 W 72-41 W 70-55 |

## International

* Lori Clarke Canada: Canada women's national basketball team (1985–92)

## Awards and honours
### Canada West Awards
#### Canada West Hall of Fame

* Victoria Vikettes, (1979-83): Canada West Hall of Fame - 2019 Inductee
* Kathy Shields: Canada West Hall of Fame - 2019 Inductee

#### Canada West All-Stars

* 2010 Canada West First Team All-Star : Kayla Dykstra
* 2009 Canada West First Team All-Star : Kayla Dykstra
* 1998 Canada West First Team All-Star : Lisa Koop
* 1997 Canada West First Team All-Star : Lisa Koop
* 1996 Canada West First Team All-Star : Lisa Koop
* 1991 Canada West First Team All-Star: Kelly Boucher
* 1990 Canada West First Team All-Star: Kelly Boucher
* 1989 Canada West First Team All-Star: Kelly Boucher
* 1988 Canada West First Team All-Star: Karla Karch
* 1988 Canada West Second Team All-Star: Kelly Boucher
* 1987 Canada West First-Team All-Star: Janet Fowler
* 1987 Canada West All-Star: Lori Clarke
* 1987 Canada West Second Team All-Star: Karla Karch
* 1986 Canada West All-Star: Lori Clarke
* 1985 Canada West All-Star: Lori Clarke
* 1983 Canada West All-Star: Tracie McAra
* 1982 Canada West All-Star: Tracie McAra
* 1981 Canada West All-Star: Tracie McAra
* 1981 Canada West First-Team All-Star: Luanne Krawetz
* 1980 Canada West First-Team All-Star: Luanne Krawetz
* 1980 Canada West First-Team All-Star: Carol Turney-Loos
* 1979 Canada West First-Team All-Star: Luanne Krawetz

#### Player of the Year

* 2009 Canada West Player of the Year : Kayla Dykstra
* 1998 Canada West Player of the Year : Lisa Koop
* 1997 Canada West Player of the Year : Lisa Koop
* 1996 Canada West Player of the Year : Lisa Koop

#### Coach of the Year

* 1979-80: Kathy Shields
* 1986-87: Kathy Shields
* 1991-92: Kathy Shields
* 1992-93: Kathy Shields
* 1994-95: Kathy Shields
* 1996-97: Kathy Shields
* 1997-98: Kathy Shields
* 2000-01: Kathy Shields

### U Sports Awards

* 2003-04 Sylvia Sweeney Award Outstanding student-athlete: Krystal O'Bryne

### Victoria Vikes Hall of Fame

* Class of 2019 Inductee: Lori Clarke
* Class of 2017 inductee: Carol Turney-Loos
* Class of 2012 inductee: 1981-82 Women’s Basketball Team
* Class of 2006 Inductee: Luanne Krawetz-Hebb
* Class of 2002 inductee: Kathy Shields

### University Awards

* 2020 Victoria Vikes Provost Award for Excellence presented to a returning student-athlete with the highest academic average in the previous year Hannah Walline, Co-winner
* 2020 Victoria Vikes Varsity Highlights Awards: Marissa Dheensaw
* 1987 Victoria Vikes Female Athlete of the Year: Lori Clarke

## Top 100

In celebration of the centennial anniversary of U SPORTS women’s basketball, a committee of U SPORTS women’s basketball coaches and partners revealed a list of the Top 100 women's basketball players. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first Canadian university women’s contest between the Queen’s Gaels and McGill Martlets on Feb. 6, 1920, the list of the Top 100 was gradually revealed over four weeks. A total of 11 Vikes were named to the Top 100.
| Player | Team(s) | Years | Accolades |
| Mary Coutts | Victoria | 1965-67 | |
| Carol Turney-Loos | Saint Mary's Victoria UBC | 1973-80 | Recipient of the 1980 Nan Copp Award |
| Luanne Hebb Krawetz | Victoria | 1977-82 | |
| Tracie McAra-Sibbald | Victoria | 1978-83 | Played for Canada in Basketball at the 1984 Summer Olympics |
| Sandy Espeseth | Victoria | 1981-88 | |
| Karla Karch | Calgary Victoria | 1982-88 | |
| Lori Clarke | Victoria | 1984-87 | |
| Janet Fowler | Victoria | 1984-87 | |
| Kelly Boucher | Calgary Victoria | 1985-91 | Played for Canada in Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics Also played for Canada in Basketball at the 2000 Summer Olympics Competed for the Charlotte Sting of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). |
| Lisa Koop | Victoria | 1993-98 | |
| Kayla Dykstra | Victoria | 2006-11 | Recipient of the 2009 Nan Copp Award |