After their opening exhibition game against UBC Okanagan, it’s safe to say that the 2025-26 Brock women’s basketball team is looking like a force to be reckoned with.
Falling short of their goal of an OUA title last year, Head Coach Shae Dheensaw and her team felt like they could have gone all the way. League MVP Madalyn Weinert played some of the best basketball the program had seen, leading the team in both points and rebounds per game. Regardless of how last season ended, there was only one direction for this team to go, as many key contributors would be returning for the upcoming season.
Exhibition game 1 takeaways
On Sept. 21, the Badgers hosted their exhibition game against the UBC Okanagan Heat in a contest that saw the Badgers hold on for the win. The story of the game for Brock was their all-around contributions from their starters to bench. Key players like Tito Akinnusi and Audrey Ntetani weren’t suited up, leaving Dheensaw room to run out different players. Janee Harrison, Mikayla Williams and Sofia Curcio all signed with the Badgers this offseason and played meaningful minutes down to the stretch against the Heat. Harrison had an outstanding game on both ends of the floor. The fifth year forward came into the game with a fire lit under her. Scoring on all three levels, Harrison gave the Badgers a more dynamic look on offence with her ability to stretch the floor and show off her inside touch.
Dheensaw emphasized high ball screens to allow her guards to get downhill against mismatches. This was most prevalent with Weinert and Shailah Adams, who had their way the entire game, torching mismatches with ease. Weinert enjoyed a typical game, dominating the open floor and inside with her overpowering physical tools. It’s the reigning MVP’s ability to share the ball that will go unnoticed, as she had her teammates involved throughout the entire game, making unselfish plays left and right. Adams was another standout from that game, showing why she’s one of the most valuable players in the league. The Welland native couldn’t miss — no matter where she was on the floor, you’d expect the ball to go in every time a shot went up. Moving forward, if Adams can perform like she did against the Heat, there’s no question that she and Weinert could be one of the deadliest duos in the league.
Finally, Vienna Vercesi showed out in her first game back from an LCL tear. The injury had kept her out for an extended period — though it seemed like she was never hurt as she dominated the Heat from the inside. From the eye test, Vercesi excelled at the little things; the forward continuously made smart plays, whether it was a well-timed ball screen to free her teammates or being in the right place at the right time. If Vercesi can remain healthy for the rest of the season, she can help propel the Badgers to the top of the league.
Who else to look out for
Jamie Addy was another outstanding performer from Saturday afternoon’s contest. The St. Catharines native had the ball in her hands, excelling at coming off screens and getting to her spots in the midrange and beyond the arc. As the game progressed, Addy’s intensity on the defensive end was what made her stand out. Each time she checked in, there was instant person-to-person pressure on the inbounds. Regardless of a few ticky-tac fouls from her ball pressure, Addy’s defence is something to look out for. It will be interesting to see how players like Addy and Adams will help to take pressure off Weinert this season — a function that will be crucial moving forward.
In the front court, Tito Akinnusi will be called to be one of Dheensaws’ go-to scoring options. As one of the most skilled players in the league for her size, Akinnusi has it all — from a lethal jump shot to handles that punish other forwards trying to guard her. When healthy, she can be one of the most dangerous weapons for the Badgers’ team. When at her best, she will be playing meaningful minutes for a team looking to contend.
Brock’s guard depth rotation is already stacked, but somebody who often flies under the radar is Ava Stranges. The St. David’s native had a sneaky good game against the Heat, showing flashes of improved shooting from distance, along with some crafty finishes around the rim she’s become so good at. Though there were some bumps in the road during last year’s rookie season, Stranges looked like a veteran in Saturday’s outing, playing with a level of poise Dheensaw was looking for. Now in her sophomore season, she will be asked to do more on the court, whether that’s increasing her shot attempts or playing more with the ball. Dheensaw is very high on Stranges — the sky’s the limit for her if she improves at the rate she is going now. It would be no surprise to see her represent the Badgers as an all-star this year.
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It’s win-now mode for this Badgers team. Weinert is in her fifth year of eligibility and the Women’s basketball team needs to get everything they can out of this era. From the top of the lineup to the bottom, this Badgers team is no joke. If they can stay together and continue to build the culture they have fostered, don’t be shocked if you see Brock make a splash in this year’s playoffs.