The UBC Thunderbirds women's basketball team represent the University of British Columbia in the Canada West Universities Athletic Association of U Sports women's basketball. The Thunderbirds (originally known as the Thunderettes) have won the Bronze Baby a total of five times, including the first three championships, spanning from 1972 to 1974. The last two national championships took place in 2004 and 2008. Both victories took place against the Regina Cougars. In 2004, the Thunderbirds defeated the Cougars by a 60–53 mark, while the 2008 triumph resulted in a 67–46 final.
History The 2003–04 season marked a breakthrough for Carrie Watson. In addition to All-Canadian honours, Watson also won the Canada West and Canadian Interuniversity Sport Defensive Player of the Year Awards. She would also earn a pair of university honours, capturing the Marilyn Pomfret Trophy, recognizing the university's Female Athlete of the Year, along with the Thunderbirds Performance Leadership Award. Winning the Bronze Baby National Championship Trophy, the program's first since 1974, ending a 30-year drought, Watson's efforts resulted in National Championship MVP honours. In June 2007, Watson would become the program's first full-time assistant coach.
From 2007 to 2020, the Thunderbirds would enjoy a 152–58 won-loss mark in Canada West league play. Capturing the national championship in 2008, the program would reach the national championship game once again in 2012, settling for a silver medal. At the 2015 CIS Women's Basketball Championship, the program emerged with a bronze medal.
Retiring in 2021, Debbie Huband was the longest serving coach in the history of Thunderbirds basketball. As the Thunderbirds head coach, Huband captured three national titles (2003–04, 2005–06, 2007–08) and four conference championships (2006–07, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2014–15).
Season-by-season results
Statistics Individual Leader Scoring +Legend GP Games played GS Games started MIN Minutes played FG Field-goals 3FG 3-point field-goals FT Free-throws PTS Points AVG Points per game 2018–19Keylyn Filewich 20 609 152 0 65 369 18.5 4th2019–20Keylyn Filewich 20 612 165 0 51 38119.1 4th
International Carrie Watson : 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women; Basketball at the 2007 Pan American Games; 2019 Winter Universiade Asst. Coach and Team Leader Keylyn Filewich: Basketball at the 2019 Summer Universiade
Awards and honors 2004 Basketball BC University Female Athlete of the Year: Carrie Watson 2018 Sport BC In Her Footsteps Honouree: Debbie Huband University Awards 2004 UBC Marilyn Pomfret Trophy (in recognition of UBC's Female Athlete of the Year), Carrie Watson 2004 UBC Thunderbirds Performance Leadership Award, Carrie Watson 2015 May Brown Trophy (Graduating Female Athlete of the Year): Kris Young 2016 UBC Thunderbirds Female Rookie of the Year: Jessica Hanson 2019 TAC Performance Award: Keylyn Filewich UBC Sports Hall of Fame 2016 inductee: Erica McGuinness 2021 inductee: Carrie (Watson) Watts Canada West Awards 2003–04 Canada West Defensive Player of the Year: Carrie Watson 2003–04 Canada West Coach of the Year: Debbie Huband U Sports Awards Peter Ennis Award (awarded to the Coach of the Year) 2003–04 Debbie Huband
Sylvia Sweeney Award (awarded to the Outstanding student-athlete) 1994–95 Adair Duncan
Kathy Shields Award (awarded to the Rookie of the year) 2002–03 Kelsey Blair All-Canadians 2003–04: Carrie Watson, CIS All-Canadian 2018–19: Keylyn Filewich – Second Team All-Canadian
National championship MVP 2003–04 Carrie Watson 2005–06 Kelsey Blair 2007–08 Erica McGuinness Defensive Player of the year 2003–04 Carrie Watson 2008–09 Leanne Evans
Canada West Hall of Fame UBC Thunderettes Women's Basketball Team (1969–75) – 2021 Inductee: Canada West Hall of Fame Joanne Sargent – 2019 inductee: Canada West Hall of Fame
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 February 6, 1920, the list of the Top 100 was gradually revealed over four weeks. Culminating with the All-Canadian Gala, which also recognized national award winners. A total of 14 UBC players were named to the list. Although she played for Bishop's University, eventual Thunderbirds head coach Debbie Huband was also part of this list.
PlayerTeam(s)YearsAccoladesRuth Wilson UBC 1937–41Nora McDermott UBC 1945–49She coached the bronze medal winning women's basketball squad at the 1967 Pan American GamesBarb Robertson UBC 1959–64Pauline Genzick UBC 1966–69Betty Ross UBC 1966–71Joanne Sargent UBC 1968–73Terri McGovern UBC 1969–72Bev Barnes UBC 1970–74Debbie Phelan UBC 1970–75Kathy Williams-Shields UBCLaurentian 1969–711972–76Liz Silcott ConcordiaWaterloo UBC 1972–79Carol Turney-Loos Saint Mary's Victoria UBC 1973–80 Recipient of the 1980 Nan Copp AwardJessica Mills UBC 1995–00Kristjana YoungUBC2010–15
Thunderbirds in pro basketball
Player Position Team(s) YearsTitlesJessica Hanson Tipperary Knights Basketball Club Ireland None
References
External links