University of Calgary Dinos fifth-year guard Amélie Collin has been honored as the U SPORTS Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year. The prestigious award was announced Wednesday evening at the All-Canadian Gala in Quebec City, which is hosting the 2026 Sunlife U SPORTS Women's Basketball Final 8 Presented by Michelob and Hilton Québec.
Record-Breaking Senior Season
Amélie Collin's final collegiate campaign was nothing short of historic. The Rimouski, Quebec native, who has been a starter since her first day on the UCalgary campus, shattered multiple program and conference records while leading the Dinos to another remarkable season on the court.
The 5-foot-9 guard broke the University of Calgary's career steals record early in the season, finishing with 259 steals. She went on to demolish Canada West records for both career steals (previously 308, Collin graduates with 322) and steals in a single season with an impressive 98 thefts.
Offensive Contributions
While celebrated for her defensive prowess, Collin also demonstrated significant offensive capabilities. She tied for the team lead in scoring this season with 12.1 points per game and ranked sixth nationally in three-point shooting, connecting at an exceptional 39.3 percent rate.
Team Success and Defensive Dominance
Under Collin's defensive leadership, the Dinos have excelled as a unit during the crucial home stretch of the regular season and throughout their conference championship run. Calgary's defense has been particularly formidable in the postseason, allowing more than 60 points only once while holding their final three opponents – the top three seeds in this year's Canada West Tournament – to an average of just 54.0 points per game.
Other National Award Winners
The All-Canadian Gala recognized several other outstanding student-athletes and coaches:
- Brock's Madelyn Weinert was named the national Player of the Year
- Western guard Sydney Cowan captured the Kathy Shields Award as Rookie of the Year
- McGill forward Emilia Diaz-Ruiz earned the Sylvia Sweeney Award for Student-Athlete Community Service
- Queen's guard Bella Gauden received the Tracy MacLeod Award for her courage in overcoming adversity
- Saskatchewan coach Lisa Thomaidis earned the Peter Ennis Award as Fox 40 Coach of the Year
Historic Achievement for Calgary
Collin becomes the first University of Calgary Dino to receive the U SPORTS Defensive Player of the Year award. Other nominees for this honor included Hailey Franco DeRyck from Toronto Metropolitan University, Eve Atchampone from Bishop's University, and Shannon Neita from STFX University.
Looking Ahead to the Final 8
The Dinos now shift their focus to the court as they prepare for the U SPORTS Final 8 tournament. Their championship journey begins Thursday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. MT with a quarterfinal matchup against McGill University.
Tickets for all 11 games of the championship tournament are available for purchase at usportstickets.ca. The entire competition will be broadcast live on CBC digital platforms in English and Radio-Canada's digital platforms in French, ensuring fans across the country can follow the action.
