Looking back on a successful regular season for the Badgers’ women’s basketball team, it’s time to highlight The Brock Press’ award winners: Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player and Most Valuable Player recipients.
Rookie of the Year: Vienna Vercesi
Vienna Vercesi’s impact on the team emerged as the season progressed, playing a pivotal role in the Badgers’ 11-game win streak en route to finishing atop the OUA Central division standings.
The Niagara Falls native led all Badger rookies in points per game (5.1), rebounds per game (2.9) and field goal percentage (46.7 per cent) during the regular season.
Vercesi’s breakout performance came against McMaster on Feb. 10th, nearly registering a double-double, notching career highs in both points (10) and rebounds (8). The five-foot-11 forward showed tremendous growth in that game, using her size and strength to gather rebounds and be an interior scoring threat – something that she can use to exploit the opposition in the seasons ahead.
Runners-Up: Shailah Adams, Brookelyn Keltos
Defensive Player of the Year: Madalyn Weinert
Madalyn Weinert is not just one of the best defenders in the OUA, but countrywide too. Weinert led U SPORTS in blocks per game (2.0), while ranking fifth in Ontario in steals per game (2.5) and sixth in defensive rebounds (6.5).
She earned a season-high six steals on Feb. 3rd against Western while picking up a season-high six blocks a few weeks later on Feb. 17th against Nipissing.
Weinert’s defensive masterclass is a big reason why Brock ranked near the top of the OUA in every statistical category of team defence.
The Badgers allowed the eight-fewest points per game (60.9) while limiting the opposition to the sixth-lowest field goal percentage (33 per cent) and second-lowest three-point percentage (24.3 per cent) this season.
Weinert will be looked upon to lead the team to another defensively sound season in 2024/25.
Runners-Up: Noor Bazzi, Madison MacInnis
Most Improved Player: Oluwatito Akinnusi
After starting only one game last season, Akinnusi started all 23 games this season, providing a much-needed spark for the Badgers this season.
The sophomore forward elevated her game in 2023/24, averaging 14.2 points per game – over 10 points more than her 3.8 points per game last season – along with 8.9 rebounds and a much-improved 52.7 field goal percentage: the third highest in the OUA.
Akinnusi gained the attention of many after her stellar performance against McMaster on Nov. 25th in the annual Paint the Meridian Red game. The Kleinburg, O.N. native notched a career-high 37 points on 15-for-26 shooting, earning her OUA Female Athlete of the Week honours.
The Psychology major is also tenacious on the glass, grabbing a total of 278 rebounds this season – 80 offensive and 198 defensive – including a career-high 16 rebounds twice; first in the season opener against Toronto on Nov. 3rd and again on Nov. 24th versus Queen’s.
Yet, Akinnusi’s game can still reach another level, something that coach Mike Rao will look to next season especially as she and Weinert are developing into one of the best duos in the OUA.
Runners-Up: Madalyn Weinert, Noor Bazzi
Most Valuable Player: Madalyn Weinert
Weinert is not only the Badgers’ Most Valuable Player, but the province’s MVP, being named the OUA Women’s Basketball Player of the Year while being selected as a first-team all-star for the first time in her career.
The third-year forward led the country in points per game (22.5), tallying double-digit points in all 23 games this season. Weinert’s season-high 34 points on Jan. 27th against Lakehead reached a milestone of 1,000 points in her OUA career.
The St. Catharines native also shot the ball very efficiently, finishing the year with a 52.2 field goal percentage – the fourth-best in the province – while grabbing the fifth-most rebounds per game (9.6).
In total, Weinert tallied career-highs in points (494), assists (98), steals (54) and blocks (44) during the regular season.
Runners-Up: Oluwatito Akinnusi, Angeline Campbell
Weinert and the Badgers will look to rebound after a disappointing OUA quarterfinal loss to TMU and go on a deep playoff run next season, looking to qualify for the U SPORTS Final 8 for the first time since the 2021-22 season.