Huskies Coach Maintains Confidence Despite Semifinal Setback
The University of Saskatchewan Huskies women's basketball team experienced their first defeat of the season in the Canada West semifinals, but head coach Lisa Thomaidis remains unwavering in her belief that the team will secure a wild card entry to the national tournament. The loss to the University of Calgary Dinos ended an impressive 51-game winning streak that had defined their season.
A Wake-Up Call That Refocuses Championship Aspirations
Coach Thomaidis described the unexpected defeat as a "wake-up call" for her squad, but emphasized that it hasn't diminished their national championship ambitions. "It certainly wasn't our best effort on Saturday," Thomaidis acknowledged. "If anything, I think it just redirected our focus to how hard you have to play to win at this level and how difficult it is."
The loss placed the defending U Sports national champions in an unfamiliar position. Instead of earning an automatic berth to nationals through tournament victory, the Huskies must await confirmation about a potential wild card entry. Thomaidis, who recently earned her eighth Canada West Coach of the Year award, expressed the difficulty of this waiting period. "It's incredibly difficult to have to just be waiting and not knowing and kind of being in limbo about your opponent you might be playing," she explained.
Clear Criteria Support Huskies' Case
Despite the uncertainty, Thomaidis expressed strong confidence based on the team's regular season performance and national ranking. "I am very confident that the team will get the wild-card spot," she stated firmly. "This is probably one of the few years, if not the only year, that I've been coaching where it is pretty cut and dried. The criteria are out there. You know what they are, and you know exactly where your team sits."
The coach pointed to the team's undefeated 20-0 regular season record and their consistent No. 1 national ranking as compelling evidence for their wild card selection. "Compared to other teams, we're No. 1 in all the categories," Thomaidis noted. "I think there isn't much of a grey area. It's pretty black and white."
Renewed Energy and Championship Motivation
Following the disappointing loss, Thomaidis observed a positive shift in team mentality during practice sessions. "We've come back to practice with a bit of a renewed energy," she reported. "It gives us an opportunity to work on some things and be as best prepared as possible for next week."
The Huskies have additional motivation beyond simply returning to the national tournament. Under Thomaidis' leadership, the program has captured national championships in 2016, 2020, and 2025, but has yet to achieve back-to-back titles. This year's squad, led by Canada West Player of the Year Gage Grassick, aims to accomplish that historic feat.
"This group is used to winning and bringing home banners," Thomaidis reflected. "To know that we weren't going to be advancing to play for a Canada West championship was very disappointing. But we have the tools to pull off back-to-back national championships, and that's what we're focused on achieving."
The team now awaits the official announcement that will determine whether their championship defense continues through a wild card entry to the national tournament.
