# U Sports women's basketball championship

The U Sports Women's Basketball Championship, branded as the Women's Basketball Final 8, is a Canadian university basketball tournament conducted by U Sports, and determines the women's national champion. The tournament involves the champions from each of Canada's four regional sports conferences. The Bronze Baby trophy is awarded to the winners.
Seventeen different schools have won the tournament. The University of Victoria has the most tournament wins, with nine. Laurentian University has seven championships. The University of British Columbia has taken the title six times, while the University of Windsor and Simon Fraser University have five apiece. Carleton University, the University of Winnipeg, the University of Saskatchewan and University of Manitoba have each won three championships, while Bishop's University and have won two. Seven programs have one national championship.

## History

The tournament was originally composed of just four qualifying teams from 1972 to 1976 until it was expanded to include six in 1977. The championship was then changed to include eight teams in 1979 and has generally remained the same since then. In the 2011 edition, the then-named CIS had West, Central, and East regional play-in games to determine the three remaining spot in the tournament (the other five went to the four conference champions and host). In 2012, there were East and West regional games to determine two additional berths and by 2013 the league had reverted to voting in the three remaining spots. Aside from those two years of regional qualifiers, the tournament has always taken place over one weekend at a pre-determined host site.
The trophy features a figure that is a replica of a statue that was in the grounds of Dunfermline College of Physical Education in Scotland. The trophy was first donated in 1922 by the Students' Council of McGill University and awarded to the Ontario and Quebec conference champion of the Women's Interuniversity Athletic Union (WIAU). After the WIAU amalgamated with the Ontario Women's Interuniversity Athletic Union (OWIAA) in 1971, the trophy was retired and returned to McGill. The trophy was then offered to the Canadian Women's Interuniversity Athletic Union (CWIAU) in 1972 to be competed for at a fully national level. The CWIAU merged with the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (CIAU), the men's union, in 1978 and awarded by the now-named U Sports governing body.
The 2021 championship tournaments were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Format

The championship consists of an eight-team single-elimination tournament. Four teams automatically qualify for the tournament as one of the winners of the four conferences, two qualify as the runners-up of both the OUA and Canada West conference, one qualifies as the host, and one is given an at-large berth.

## Results

| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score | Venue | Host |
| 1972 | UBC Thunderettes | UNB Red Bloomers | 74–69 | – | University of Saskatchewan |
| 1973 | UBC Thunderettes (2) | Manitoba Bisonettes | 50–30 | – | McGill University |
| 1974 | UBC Thunderettes (3) | UNB Red Bloomers (2) | 67–53 | – | University of Winnipeg |
| 1975 | Laurentian Lady Vees | UBC Thunderettes | 59–49 | – | University of New Brunswick |
| 1976 | Laurentian Lady Vees (2) | UNB Red Bloomers (3) | 50–42 | – | University of Guelph |
| 1977 | Laurentian Lady Vees (3) | Winnipeg Wesmenettes | 61–50 | – | University of Calgary |
| 1978 | Laurentian Lady Vees (4) | Winnipeg Lady Wesmen (2) | 69–51 | – | University of Calgary (2) |
| 1979 | Laurentian Lady Vees (5) | Victoria Vikettes | 61–53 (2OT) | – | University of Regina |
| 1980 | Victoria Vikettes | Dalhousie Tigers | 64–59 | – | Dalhousie University |
| 1981 | Victoria Vikettes (2) | Bishop's Gaiters | 61–59 | – | University of Guelph (2) |
| 1982 | Victoria Vikettes (3) | Bishop's Gaiters (2) | 70–55 | – | University of Saskatchewan (2) |
| 1983 | Bishop's Gaiters | Victoria Vikettes (2) | 64–49 | – | University of Manitoba |
| 1984 | Bishop's Gaiters (2) | Winnipeg Lady Wesmen (3) | 70–62 | – | University of Manitoba (2) |
| 1985 | Victoria Vikettes (4) | Laurentian Lady Vees | 71–52 | – | Bishop's University |
| 1986 | Toronto Varsity Blues | Victoria Vikettes (3) | 68–63 | – | University of Winnipeg (2) |
| 1987 | Victoria Vikettes (5) | Laurentian Lady Vees (2) | 54–52 | – | Laval University |
| 1988 | Manitoba Bisons | Calgary Dinosaurs | 61–55 | – | University of Lethbridge |
| 1989 | Calgary Dinosaurs | UPEI Panthers | 92–55 | – | Laurentian University |
| 1990 | Laurentian Lady Vees (6) | Calgary Dinosaurs (2) | 74–65 | – | University of Toronto |
| 1991 | Laurentian Lady Vees (7) | Regina Cougars | 79–72 (OT) | – | Laval University (2) |
| 1992 | Victoria Vikes (6) | Winnipeg Wesmen (4) | 64–51 | – | University of Prince Edward Island |
| 1993 | Winnipeg Wesmen | Victoria Vikes (4) | 70–63 | – | University of Victoria |
| 1994 | Winnipeg Wesmen (2) | Toronto Varsity Blues | 90–76 | – | University of Calgary (3) |
| 1995 | Winnipeg Wesmen (3) | Manitoba Bisons (2) | 72–61 | – | Lakehead University |
| 1996 | Manitoba Bisons (2) | Toronto Varsity Blues (2) | 81–77 (OT) | – | Laval University (3) |
| 1997 | Manitoba Bisons (3) | York Yeowomen | 73–62 | – | Lakehead University (2) |
| 1998 | Victoria Vikes (7) | Manitoba Bisons (3) | 66–61 | – | Lakehead University (3) |
| 1999 | Alberta Pandas | Victoria Vikes (5) | 54–46 | – | Lakehead University (4) |
| 2000 | Victoria Vikes (8) | Calgary Dinos (3) | 57–41 | – | University of Alberta |
| 2001 | Regina Cougars | Alberta Pandas | 94–85 | – | University of Alberta (2) |
| 2002 | Simon Fraser Clan | Laval Rouge et Or | 66–51 | – | McMaster University |
| 2003 | Victoria Vikes (9) | Winnipeg Wesmen (5) | 60–51 | – | McMaster University (2) |
| 2004 | UBC Thunderbirds (4) | Regina Cougars (2) | 60–53 | – | University of Winnipeg (3) |
| 2005 | Simon Fraser Clan (2) | Winnipeg Wesmen (6) | 70–60 | – | University of Winnipeg (4) |
| 2006 | UBC Thunderbirds (5) | Cape Breton Capers | 56–53 | – | University of New Brunswick (2) |
| 2007 | Simon Fraser Clan (3) | Alberta Pandas (2) | 72–68 | – | Memorial University of Newfoundland |
| 2008 | UBC Thunderbirds (6) | Regina Cougars (3) | 67–46 | Physical Activity Complex (PAC) | University of Saskatchewan (3) |
| 2009 | Simon Fraser Clan (4) | Regina Cougars (4) | 68–62 | CKHS, Main Gymnasium | University of Regina (2) |
| 2010 | Simon Fraser Clan (5) | Windsor Lancers | 77–56 | Burridge Gymnasium | McMaster University (3) |
| 2011 | Windsor Lancers | Saskatchewan Huskies | 63–49 | St. Denis Centre Fieldhouse | University of Windsor |
| 2012 | Windsor Lancers (2) | UBC Thunderbirds (2) | 69–53 | Jack Simpson Gymnasium | University of Calgary (4) |
| 2013 | Windsor Lancers (3) | Regina Cougars (5) | 66–57 | CKHS, Main Gymnasium | University of Regina (3) |
| 2014 | Windsor Lancers (4) | Saint Mary's Huskies | 71–45 | St. Denis Centre Fieldhouse | University of Windsor (2) |
| 2015 | Windsor Lancers (5) | McGill Martlets | 60–47 | PEPS Gymnasium | Laval University (4) |
| 2016 | Saskatchewan Huskies | Ryerson Rams | 85–71 | Richard J. Currie Centre | University of New Brunswick (3) |
| 2017 | McGill Martlets | Laval Rouge et Or (2) | 66–55 | CARSA Performance Gym | University of Victoria (2) |
| 2018 | Carleton Ravens | Saskatchewan Huskies (2) | 69–48 | CKHS, Main Gymnasium | University of Regina (4) |
| 2019 | McMaster Marauders | Laval Rouge et Or (3) | 70–58 | Mattamy Athletic Centre | Ryerson University |
| 2020 | Saskatchewan Huskies (2) | Brock Badgers | 82–64 | TD Place Arena | Carleton University |
| 2021 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | | Athletic and Recreation Centre (ARC) | Queen's University |
| 2022 | Ryerson Rams | Winnipeg Wesmen (7) | 70–48 | Athletic and Recreation Centre (ARC) | Queen's University |
| 2023 | Carleton Ravens (2) | Queen's Gaels | 71–59 | Sullivan Field House | Cape Breton University |
| 2024 | Carleton Ravens (3) | Saskatchewan Huskies (3) | 70–67 | Saville Community Sports Centre | University of Alberta (3) |
| 2025 | Saskatchewan Huskies (3) | Carleton Ravens | 85–66 | Thunderbird Sports Centre | University of British Columbia |
| 2026 | | | | PEPS Gymnasium | Laval University (5) |
| 2027 | | | | Scotiabank Centre | Acadia University |

## Title by school

| Appearances | Team | Conference | Wins | Losses | Win % | MRC | MRA |
| 14 | Victoria Vikes | Canada West | 9 | 5 | .643 | 2003 | 2003 |
| 10 | Winnipeg Wesmen | Canada West | 3 | 7 | .300 | 1995 | 2022 |
| 9 | Laurentian Lady Vees | OUA | 7 | 2 | .778 | 1991 | 1991 |
| 8 | UBC Thunderbirds | Canada West | 6 | 2 | .750 | 2008 | 2012 |
| 6 | Manitoba Bisons | Canada West | 3 | 3 | .500 | 1997 | 1998 |
| 6 | Regina Cougars | Canada West | 1 | 5 | .167 | 2001 | 2013 |
| 6 | Windsor Lancers | OUA | 5 | 1 | .833 | 2015 | 2015 |
| 5 | Simon Fraser Clan | Canada West | 5 | 0 | 1.000 | 2010 | 2010 |
| 5 | Saskatchewan Huskies | Canada West | 3 | 2 | .600 | 2025 | 2025 |
| 4 | Bishop's Gaiters | RSEQ | 2 | 2 | .500 | 1984 | 1984 |
| 4 | Calgary Dinos | Canada West | 1 | 3 | .250 | 1989 | 2000 |
| 4 | Carleton Ravens | OUA | 3 | 1 | .750 | 2024 | 2025 |
| 3 | Toronto Varsity Blues | OUA | 1 | 2 | .333 | 1986 | 1996 |
| 3 | UNB Red Bloomers | AUS | 0 | 3 | .000 | None | 1976 |
| 3 | Alberta Pandas | Canada West | 1 | 2 | .667 | 1999 | 2007 |
| 3 | Laval Rouge et Or | RSEQ | 0 | 3 | .000 | None | 2019 |
| 2 | McGill Martlets | RSEQ | 1 | 1 | .500 | 2017 | 2017 |
| 2 | Ryerson Rams | OUA | 1 | 1 | .500 | 2022 | 2022 |
| 1 | McMaster Marauders | OUA | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 2019 | 2019 |
| 1 | Dalhousie Tigers | AUS | 0 | 1 | .000 | None | 1980 |
| 1 | UPEI Panthers | AUS | 0 | 1 | .000 | None | 1989 |
| 1 | York Yeowomen | OUA | 0 | 1 | .000 | None | 1997 |
| 1 | Cape Breton Capers | AUS | 0 | 1 | .000 | None | 2006 |
| 1 | Saint Mary's Huskies | AUS | 0 | 1 | .000 | None | 2014 |
| 1 | Brock Badgers | OUA | 0 | 1 | .000 | None | 2020 |
| 1 | Queen's Gaels | OUA | 0 | 1 | .000 | None | 2023 |
^ A. Simon Fraser Clan were members of the CIS (now U Sports) from 2001 to 2010.