2026/27 Women's Basketball Season Preview
Blazers WBB are all smiles after qualifying for the MCAC Finals last season.
Blazers women's basketball is the most successful CMU Athletics program having captured nine MCAC titles, and two NIAC titles, with much of that success coming over the last eight seasons. The program is looking to take back the top spot in Manitoba after alternating championship wins with Providence since the 2022/23 season.
Blazers Athletics continues its 2026/27 team previews with the Blazers Women's Basketball team, noting new additions, key returnees, and losses to the lineup heading into the season:
Outgoing Players
Blazers Athletics honoured two student-athletes for completing their four years of eligibility under NIAC policies at the final game of last season, Zia Dacara, and Avery McCarthy; however, after the addition of Red River College back into the MCAC mix, and the subsequent application at the CCAA level for basketball to be included in the national conference beginning in the 2027/28 campaign, the MCAC has decided to extend a fifth year of eligibility to any of its basketball participants continuing to play following the 2025/26 season. That means both Dacara and McCarthy will be eligible to return, and both are expected to finish up their studies and eligibility this season.
Also leaving the team for other pursuits are forwards Hannah Grobb, Jersey Nabess, and Abby Morydz, along with guards Kristine Navea and Jessica Routsis.
Incoming Recruits
Filling some of the holes in the lineup are a couple of new recruits and additions to the squad including signees Lily Cox, Paige Marcelino, Rhea Koshel, Mami Kabonesa, and yet-to-be-signed Lauryn Wilson. New head coach Patrick Sumugat assumed the coaching and recruiting duties this spring, but is not a new face in the program, having worked with the team last season under Sharlene Harding. Sumugat is looking to build another championship-calibre squad and has added some significant local talent to his roster.
Lily Cox | 5'10" Shooting Guard | Sturgeon Heights Collegiate | Team Manitoba & Jr Wesmen
The Blazers inked their first women's basketball recruit back in March, locking in the lengthy shooting guard with high-level experience coming out of youth club basketball. Look for Cox to be a threat from the wing, and take a little pressure off the returning point guards to be primary outside shooters.
Coach's Quote: "Lily is an outstanding basketball player with the speed, skill, and court sense that will make her seamlessly fit into the pace and style of play at CMU. Her tireless work ethic on the court is enviable and only enhances how coachable she is. Lily will be an amazing addition to Blazers Basketball."
Mami Kabonesa | 5'4" Shooting Guard | Kildonan East Collegiate | Relentless Club
A recruit out of his own club program, head coach Patrick Sumugat signed Kabonesa in May to be a defensive force on the court. The small, but athletic combo forward/guard should add some explosive potential on both ends of the court, and be a challenging matchup for any opposing player.
Coach's Quote: "Mami has built a reputation as a defensive ace, consistently taking on the toughest matchups during her time at Kildonan East Collegiate and with her club team, Relentless. Her toughness, and commitment on the defensive end set her apart, and she will bring that same edge and competitive spirit to the CMU Women's Basketball program."
Paige Marcelino | 5'6" Small Forward | Garden City Collegiate | Attack Basketball
Adding to the list of inside-outside players, Marcelino joins Cox and Kabonesa as versatile additions that can play the perimeter or crash the paint. A dual-sport (volleyball) athlete in high school and club, expect Marcelino to continue to raise the athleticism of the team as she develops and refines her game to the college level.
Coach's Quote: "Paige is a two-way force who impacts the game every time she steps on the floor. A proven winner and proud product of the Garden City Collegiate Basketball Program and Attack Academy, she is built for big moments and will be a strong addition to our CMU Women's Basketball program."
Rhea Koshel | 5'6" Guard | Neepawa Area Collegiate | Jr Bobcats & NorthStar Academy
Koshel may not be a familiar face around Winnipeg, as the rural Manitoba product makes her way to the 'Peg for her college debut, but we get the sense that she will make a quick impression on the team and in the conference. Filling in the guard spot vacated by Kristine Navea, Koshel has the versatility to play the point or shooter, and will need to use all her tools to crack the lineup with the returning guard talent the Blazers have.
Coach's Quote: "Rhea's athleticism is a huge addition to our women's program. A multi-sport athlete and a product of both the Jr Bobcats and North Star Prep, she brings versatility, competitiveness, and a strong foundation to our team. She will definitely be one to watch this season."
Lauryn Wilson | 5'10" Forward | Vincent Massey Collegiate | TAP Manitoa & NAIG Provincial Team
A transfer from NJCAA school Highland College, Wilson returns to Manitoba and will be a mature college-ready addition to the team with size to impact the game on the boards. Once signed, Wilson will round out coach Sumugat's roster at fifteen, with a class heavy on versatility and athleticism.
Returning to the Roster
With a strong cast of returning players, the Blazers Women's Basketball program has sustained a fairly deep and talented roster over its recent run of championships and finals appearances, which sees plenty of its student-athletes complete their college careers with the program. Key returnees to the lineup this season include 2025/26 nominee for Blazers Athlete of the Year for women's sports Alyssa Doneza, who was a standout All-Conference selection for both MCAC and NIAC conferences. Betty Girmay also took a step forward in her game last year and was a dual All-Conference selection as well, while in the paint Keara Howden and Chanelle Lafreniere were two very notable players who have continued to develop their games. Injuries to several members of the team last season forced others to step up, and its likely the program will be better for it this year as they now have everyone back to full strength and accustomed to minutes in big-game scenarios.
Returning to play after missing another season due to injury is 2023/24 Blazers Rookie of the Year Maddie Wynne, who joins Doneza, Girmay, and mid-season addition Caytah Vargas as a core group of veteran guards that certainly have the opportunity to be the best backcourt in the conference, especially considering the talented recruits coming in like the likes of Koshel, Cox, Kabonesa, and Marcelino, who can all play on the perimeter as well. For much of last season a heavy burden was placed upon Doneza to shoulder much of the scoring and minutes load, so time will tell whether spreading the minutes out will help everyone involved. Veteran Avery McCarthy rounds out the shooting guard group tasked with helping lift the team back to MCAC glory in her final year.
The forward group from last season looks to be shored up as well this year, after centres Sara Bergen and Aly Hannesson both missed time due to injury. Keara Howden and Chanelle Lafreniere certainly stepped up in their absence, with Howden playing the role of the physical presence down low, and Lafreniere as someone who brings a variety of shot options from on the boards, the mid-range, or even beyond the arc. Bergen and Hannesson both provide some size up front along with new addition Lauryn Wilson and Lily Cox who has the versatility to move into a forward spot when needed. Fifth-year veteran Zia Dacara has seen a steady development of her game from a gritty but one-dimensional undersized forward to a complete player that should help keep the team on track as they look to get her one more championship win.
With a good group of new recruits looking to fight for minutes, and a full roster, expect new head coach Patrick Sumugat to up the tempo and physicality of the team play this season. His roster is currently split down the middle between third to fifth year athletes and first to second year athletes, which should set the team up well to lean on veteran leadership and talent, while developing younger skill to be competitive both this year and in the future as the program looks ahead to full CCAA inclusion in the 2027/28 season.
The competitive focus for the program turns away from the Northern U.S. states and NIAC Conference to a Manitoba-centric schedule for 2026/27 as the return of the Red River Rebels brings the MCAC members up to four teams in the sport. The Rebels could be a bit of a wild card team this year, with such a large student base they could be instantly competitive, but they also need to build their program up from nothing, so they are truly an unknown at this point. The reigning champs Providence Pilots lost some big pieces after their championship win last season, but don't expect head coach Kendall Perpall to relinquish the MCAC crown easily, as they have shown time and again the ability to slot in replacements into the system and still make for a powerhouse squad. The St Boniface Rouges took a big step last season and could still be a program on the rise, so it looks to be another exciting conference schedule to play out this year. With four teams now in the mix, the playoff format has been adapted to a single-game semi-final, followed by a championship best-of-three series with the top-seeded team remaining hosting games one and three (if necessary), with the series shifting to the lower-ranked host for game two.
Blazers Women's Basketball start the season with a busy slate of CCAA and USports exhibitions, including weekend sets with the Medicine Hat Rattlers and Briercrest Clippers in September, followed by games with the Brandon Bobcats and Dakota College Bottineau Jacks in October before tipping off the season against the newly added Red River Rebels on the first weekend in November.
