It’s redemption time for the Carleton Ravens women’s basketball squad.
Though a runner-up finish in both OUA and U Sports championships is an impressive feat for the team, having two three-peats spoiled was not on their wishlist.
The Ravens finished a perfect 22-0 regular season heading into the OUA playoffs last season, but were bested in the Critelli Cup against the rival Gee-Gees and in the U Sports finals against the Saskatchewan Huskies.
After the stellar performance last year from Dani Sinclair’s Ravens, the bench boss sees the pressure. Not the pressure to top last year’s accomplishments — but the pressure to grind.
“The pressure is honestly just to get better every day and to work hard to have these athletes grow together and become stronger together,” Sinclair told the Charlatan. “There’s no sense in getting ahead of yourself.”
Sinclair is heading into her fifth year with the Ravens and is coming off her 2025 U Sports Coach of the Year honours, plus her second straight OUA Coach of the Year title.
Her squad boasted only one regular season loss through both Coach of the Year seasons with a combined record of 41-1.
This year, the 22-0 squad looks a bit different. The roster makeover from the Ravens brings a slew of young talent straight from high school competition or college ball.
“Every year is its own special group, and you have your own daily goals and approach,” Sinclair said. “They’re energetic, and they’re fun.”
The newly shaped Ravens faced some non-OUA competition in the preseason, posting a 5-2 record with back-to-back losses in the Laval Tournoi Rouge et Or.
But the Ravens ended their preseason on a high note, taking down Lakehead and carrying the momentum into their first regular season game to top Guelph 54-51.
Sinclair described the Ravens’ opening stretch as inconsistent but within the ordinary.
“It’d be weird if we were super consistent in September and October,” Sinclair said.
“I think it’s not just inconsistent play, it’s an inconsistent approach, and that’s far more frustrating than the mistakes on the floor.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
The Ravens are going to look to fourth years Jacqueline Urban and Kyana-Jade Poulin to command the court.
Longtime starters and cornerstones of the Ravens program, the pair are looking to drive the Ravens to their third championship in four years.
Urban, who was named OUA First-Team All-Star and U Sports Second-Team All-Canadian last season, notched 189 rebounds, 277 points and shot nearly 50 per cent from the field through 20 games.
She has a dominant paint presence on both ends of the floor that teams hate to play against.
The forward also has a chance at recording her 1000th point with the Ravens, currently sitting at 744 career points. Thanks to her strength and maneuverability in the paint, Urban finished second in points for the Ravens last season.
While Poulin has always started in big games, played big minutes and consistently found herself on the scoresheet, she’s delivered more year over year.
Sinclair is looking for those veteran presences to bring more than just excellence on the court.
“I think we need more stability and presence from people who’ve played for us before,” she said.
Throughout the preseason, many new Ravens played big minutes on the court. Sinclair didn’t point out one rookie but praised all of her newcomers.
“There’s a long list. Olivia Richardson, Hannah Beattie, Tyanne Matosas-Adderley [and Marilou St-Pierre], they all stand out,” Sinclair said.
“But we have four or five others that are right in the mix.”
THIS WEEKEND
The Ravens will open their home campaign with back-to-back matchups this Friday and Saturday, looking to maintain their regular season prowess against division rivals.
The women’s team will face a struggling Nipissing group and then a .500 Laurentian, who both finished among the bottom half of OUA teams last season. Tip off is at 6 p.m.
Featured image by Emma Fazakas/the Charlatan
