Victoria Vikes women's basketball

The Victoria Vikes women's basketball team represent the University of Victoria in the Canada West Universities Athletic Association of U Sports women's basketball. The Vikes have captured the Bronze Baby, awarded to the U Sports National Champions, a record nine times. The McKinnon Building and Gym was the former home of the Vikes, and the basketball court itself was named "Ken and Kathy Shields Court" in 2002, honouring the Vikes legendary basketball coaches. As a side note, the facility also hosted the 1993 CIS women's basketball national championships and a 1999 Vancouver Grizzlies NBA intra-squad game.

Kathy Shields, the most accomplished head coach in program history, captured 15 Canada West titles (1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000), along with eight national championships (1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1991, 1997, 1999). Of note, eight of her former players and assistant coaches became head coaches at the university level. Winning 320 out of 371 regular season games, Shields was bestowed the Order of Canada in 2016.

History
Beginning in 1975, the Vikes enjoyed a run of dominance that lasted until 1987. Enjoying 10 Canada West titles, along with five national titles, the 1990s would see a return to prominence. Highlighted by seven conference titles, including six consecutive, spanning from 1994 to 2000, the decade also saw three more national title performances.

Arriving at the University of Victoria in 1979, Tracie McAra would be part of a five-year run that saw the Vikes win 102 games, while losing only 14. Winning the Bronze Baby in three consecutive years (1980–82), the achievement complemented by four consecutive Canada West conference titles (1979–82).

Between 1985 and 1987, the Vikes would appear in three straight Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (now U Sports) gold medal games, winning in 1985 and 1987. During that stretch, Lori Clarke emerged as a Canada West conference All-Star and CIAU All-Canadian in every season. Winning the Nan Copp Player of the Year Award in 1987, it marked the crowning touch to her athletic sojourn at the University of Victoria.

The 1986-87 season would also mark a finale for Janet Fowler. In her final season, she averaged 17.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Earning the Most Valuable Player Award of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (now U Sports) Championship Tournament, the Vikes were 28-2 in conference play during the season.

Having played with the Vikes from 1981–85, hoisting the Bronze Baby twice, Sandy Espeseth returned for her final year in 1987-88. Leading the Vikes to a record of 18 wins, compared to 2 losses, Espeseth earned CIS First Team All-Canadian honors, averaging 12.4 points per game and a career-high 3.5 rebounds per game. Espeseth would later compete for Canada as a member of the National Cycling Team at the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics.

The Vikes captured their last Bronze Baby trophy in 2003. The first time that the program hosted the National Championships was in 1993, finishing as the runner-up versus the University of Winnipeg.

After eight seasons, head coach Dani Sinclair stepped down as head coach of the Vikes in March 2020. In her last season, the Vikes were 12-8. Throughout her career, the Vikes amassed 105 wins, compared only to 59 losses.

In May 2021, the Vikes hired former UBC Thunderbirds women's basketball player and coach Carrie Watts to be their new head coach. Having played for Debbie Huband at UBC, Watts captured the Bronze Baby trophy in 2004. Among her coaching achievements, Watts was an assistant coach for Team Canada at the 2019 Winter Universiade.

International

 * Lori Clarke 🇨🇦: Canada women's national basketball team (1985–92)

Canada West Hall of Fame

 * Victoria Vikettes, (1979-83): Canada West Hall of Fame - 2019 Inductee
 * Kathy Shields: Canada West Hall of Fame - 2019 Inductee

Canada West All-Stars

 * 2010 Canada West First Team All-Star : Kayla Dykstra
 * 2009 Canada West First Team All-Star : Kayla Dykstra
 * 1998 Canada West First Team All-Star : Lisa Koop
 * 1997 Canada West First Team All-Star : Lisa Koop
 * 1996 Canada West First Team All-Star : Lisa Koop
 * 1991 Canada West First Team All-Star: Kelly Boucher
 * 1990 Canada West First Team All-Star: Kelly Boucher
 * 1989 Canada West First Team All-Star: Kelly Boucher
 * 1988 Canada West First Team All-Star: Karla Karch
 * 1988 Canada West Second Team All-Star: Kelly Boucher
 * 1987 Canada West First-Team All-Star: Janet Fowler
 * 1987 Canada West All-Star: Lori Clarke
 * 1987 Canada West Second Team All-Star: Karla Karch
 * 1986 Canada West All-Star: Lori Clarke
 * 1985 Canada West All-Star: Lori Clarke
 * 1983 Canada West All-Star: Tracie McAra
 * 1982 Canada West All-Star: Tracie McAra
 * 1981 Canada West All-Star: Tracie McAra
 * 1981 Canada West First-Team All-Star: Luanne Krawetz
 * 1980 Canada West First-Team All-Star: Luanne Krawetz
 * 1980 Canada West First-Team All-Star: Carol Turney-Loos
 * 1979 Canada West First-Team All-Star: Luanne Krawetz

Player of the Year

 * 2009 Canada West Player of the Year : Kayla Dykstra
 * 1998 Canada West Player of the Year : Lisa Koop
 * 1997 Canada West Player of the Year : Lisa Koop
 * 1996 Canada West Player of the Year : Lisa Koop

Coach of the Year

 * 1979-80: Kathy Shields
 * 1986-87: Kathy Shields
 * 1991-92: Kathy Shields
 * 1992-93: Kathy Shields
 * 1994-95: Kathy Shields
 * 1996-97: Kathy Shields
 * 1997-98: Kathy Shields
 * 2000-01: Kathy Shields

U Sports Awards

 * 2003-04 Sylvia Sweeney Award Outstanding student-athlete : Krystal O'Bryne

All-Canadians

 * 2010 CIS First Team All-Canadian: Kayla Dykstra
 * 2009 CIS First Team All-Canadian: Kayla Dykstra
 * 1998 CIS First Team All-Canadian: Lisa Koop
 * 1997 CIS First Team All-Canadian: Lisa Koop
 * 1996 CIS First Team All-Canadian: Lisa Koop
 * 1991 CIS Second Team All-Canadian: Kelly Boucher
 * 1988 CIS Second Team All-Canadian : Karla Karch
 * 1987 CIS First Team All-Canadian: Janet Fowler
 * 1987 CIAU All-Canadian: Lori Clarke
 * 1986 CIAU All-Canadian: Lori Clarke
 * 1985 CIAU All-Canadian: Lori Clarke
 * 1983 CIAU First Team All-Canadian: Tracie McAra
 * 1981 CIAU First Team All-Canadian: Luanne Krawetz
 * 1980 CIAU First Team All-Canadian: Carol Turney-Loos

U Sports championship MVP

 * 2002-03 Lindsay Anderson
 * 1999-00 Lindsay Brooke
 * 1997-98 Lindsay Brooke
 * 1991-92 Jenny Sutton
 * 1986-87 Janet Fowler
 * 1984-85 Lori Clarke
 * 1981-82 Luanne Hebb
 * 1980-81 Shelly Godfrey
 * 1979-80 Carol Turney-Loos

U Sports championship All-Star Team

 * 1998 CIS Championship Tournament All-Star : Lisa Koop
 * 1996 CIS Championship Tournament All-Star : Lisa Koop
 * 1987 CIS Championship Tournament All-Star: Karla Karch
 * 1983 CIAU Tournament All-Star: Tracie McAra
 * 1981 CIAU Tournament all-star: Luanne Krawetz
 * 1980 CIAU Tournament All-Star: Luanne Krawetz

Peter Ennis Award
Awarded to the Coach of the Year
 * 2009-10 Peter Ennis Award: Brian Cheng
 * 1998-99 Peter Ennis Award: Kathy Shields
 * 1991-92 Peter Ennis Award: Kathy Shields
 * 1979-80 Peter Ennis Award: Kathy Shields

Nan Copp Award
Awarded to the Player of the Year
 * 2008-09: Kayla Dykstra
 * 1986-87: Lori Clarke
 * 1982-83: Tracie McAra
 * 1981-82: Luanne Hebb
 * 1979-80: Carol Turney-Loos

Tracy MacLeod Award

 * 2008-09 Vanessa Forstbauer, Victoria

Victoria Vikes Hall of Fame

 * Class of 2019 Inductee: Lori Clarke
 * Class of 2017 inductee: Carol Turney-Loos
 * Class of 2012 inductee: 1981-82 Women’s Basketball Team
 * Class of 2006 Inductee: Luanne Krawetz-Hebb
 * Class of 2002 inductee: Kathy Shields

University Awards

 * 2020 Victoria Vikes Provost Award for Excellence presented to a returning student-athlete with the highest academic average in the previous year Hannah Walline, Co-winner
 * 2020 Victoria Vikes Varsity Highlights Awards: Marissa Dheensaw
 * 1987 Victoria Vikes Female Athlete of the Year: Lori Clarke

Top 100
In celebration of the centennial anniversary of U SPORTS women’s basketball, a committee of U SPORTS women’s basketball coaches and partners revealed a list of the Top 100 women's basketball players. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first Canadian university women’s contest between the Queen’s Gaels and McGill Martlets on Feb. 6, 1920, the list of the Top 100 was gradually revealed over four weeks. A total of 11 Vikes were named to the Top 100.