2025/26 Women's Basketball Roster Preview
Blazers WBB members await their medals after recapturing the MCAC Championship title this past March
Blazers women's basketball has been the most successful CMU Athletics program over the past seven years, capturing six MCAC titles, as well as two NIAC titles during that span. The program is looking to continue its hot streak, but will have some big holes in the roster to fill if they want to bring titles back to CMU in back-to-back seasons.
Blazers Athletics closes its 2025/26 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 graduating student-athletes Briana Ehrmantraut, Oluwanifemi Gbadamosi, and Danielle Ehmann at their final regular season match of the 2024/25 campaign. Ehrmantraut was the reining MCAC and NIAC player of the year, and broke multiple program scoring records during her time at CMU. The lengthy guard was a threat to penetrate the paint, or from beyond the arc, and the Blazers will likely need to look to multiple sources to replace her scoring ability. Gbadamosi holds a rebounding program record of her own, and was the most dominant forward in the league since her rise to All-Conference status. Ehmann was a fantastic team player, a gritty forward that could put in big performances at a moment's notice, and will be very missed as well.
Also leaving the team for other pursuits are 2025/26 rookies Caleigh Palmer, and Gina Maher. Both players were athletic guards who showed promise and potential to break into the starting lineup down the line; however their post-secondary pursuits have taken them elsewhere. One question mark remains in guard Avery McCarthy, and whether she plans to stick with her championship team, or transition to the pitch to bolster CMU's women's soccer squad.
Incoming Recruits
Filling some of the holes in the lineup are a couple of new recruits and additions to the squad including signees Aly Hannesson, and Alyssa Doneza, as well as the possible return of guard Kristine Navea, who sat out the entire 2024/25 season due to injury. Now that second-year head coach Sharlene Harding has had the chance to put a full season and recruiting cycle under her belt, time will tell whether this year's squad has what it takes to continue the dynasty for the Blazers.
Aly Hannesson | 6'0" Forward | Sisler High | Manitoba Magic Club
The Blazers inked their first women's basketball recruit back in February, locking in some more size on the boards with a local Winnipeg product in Hannesson. Look for her to eat up some of the minutes left by Oluwanifemi Gbadamosi, and to work in a tandem with the team's other six footer Sara Bergen.
Coach's Quote: "I am really looking forward to Aly joining our team next year. She has the athleticism, speed, and tenacity on defence that really complements our style of play. I am especially impressed with her consistency in boxing out and crashing the offensive boards. She is going to be a great addition to the Blazers family."
Alyssa Doneza | 5'5" Guard | Sisler High | Manitoba Magic Club
Coming out of the same strong high school program as fellow new recruit Aly Hannesson, Alyssa is the newest Blazers signing and a USport transfer from the University of Winnipeg where she was rostered and saw playing time with the Wesmen. Doneza has the opportunity to come into a talented squad and instantly be one of if not the top guard in the conference, filling some of the minutes and scoring of outgoing Briana Ehrmatraut.
Coach's Quote: "Alyssa has impressed me as a player for many years now. Her skill level is mind-boggling, with outstanding ball handling skills, quick hands on defence, and an innate ability to see and read the court. She is calm under pressure, which is invaluable, and possibly my favourite thing about her playing style. I am very much looking forward to this season with Alyssa as part of the Blazers Basketball family."
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 championship-winning streak, which sees plenty of its student-athletes complete their college careers with the program. Key returnees to the lineup this season include 2024/25 Blazers Rookie of the Year for women's sports Madeline Wynne, All-Conference forward Sara Bergen, and veteran forward Zia Dacara, who will be entering her final year of eligibility this upcoming season. Expect Wynne to work opposite Alyssa Doneza as the primary point guards this season, with the aforementioned Kristine Navea possibly sharing the load once she returns to full health. Wynne was a mature rookie this past season after sustaining season-ending injuries early in both of her first two college campaigns. A very adept play-maker, she reads the game very well and should be in the running for All-Conference consideration. 6'3" Sara Bergen vaulted herself into the All-Conference conversation in her second year last season, and expect some more growth in her skillset as she continues to round out her game. Dacara is now the most senior player on the team, and has been working on her play daily throughout the offseason. As a smaller forward, she outworks the competition at both ends of the floor, and has been adding more ability to score from outside.
There are plenty of other returnees that all have the capabilities of taking their games to the next level and earning more minutes this coming season. Look for guard Betty Girmay to be tops on the list of players to watch coming into the 2025/26 campaign. She has been working on her outside shooting, and could become even more of a threat to score this season. Likewise, in the paint look for Keara Howden to fill at least some of the minutes of outgoing Oluwanifemi Gbadamosi. Howden's tenacity and toughness are a solid base to grow her talents this season. Chanelle Lafreniere will be entering her third year with the program and showed flashes of brilliance last season. Her length and athleticism made her a threat both with and without the ball in her hands.
With coach Sharlene Harding looking to run with a smaller roster this season, there will be plenty of competition for playing time and roster spots to come from some of her depth players. Victoria Welsh trained hard last season to round out her skillset, and could see her minutes increase with additional work and confidence. Her leadership skills could be invaluable, but also may draw her away from the team into greater CMU-wide pursuits. Likewise, Jessica Routsis will be fighting for playing time in a talent-heavy guard group, but with Avery McCarthy still on the fence about returning, she could find herself more minutes at shooting guard. Rookie forward last season Abby Morydz may still be on the shelf after a season-ending injury in 2025/26 and could be competing with Hannah Grobb, a red shirt member of the squad last season for final roster spots come the fall.
Blazers Women's Basketball start the season with a tough test with exhibitions in CCAA's PacWest conference, where head coach Sharlene Harding will get a good look at her top twelve heading into the regular schedule later in October. The Blazers are looking to reignite the dynasty, having already captured the 2018-2023 MCAC titles, and now again in 2025. This year's edition will attempt to take home back-to-back NIAC titles for the first time in program history, before the team is set to host the american championships in 2027.
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