WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The Maritime Women's Basketball Association will kick off its inaugural season today in Fredericton and more than a handful of former and current Basketball Axewomen will take advantage of this great opportunity to pursue their dreams and keep the fire lit within.

This spring, female basketball players over the age of 19 will fill the rosters of six Maritime teams including the Halifax Hornets, Halifax Thunder, Windsor Edge, Moncton Mystics, Port City Fog (Saint John, NB), and the Fredericton Freeze.

One of the driving forces of the MWBA is former Basketball New Brunswick President Brad Janes who spearheaded the creation of the league.

As noted on the MWBA website, Janes wanted the present-day players to have an opportunity to continue to remain involved in female basketball in Canada.

"This is about promoting female basketball players, female coaches, officials, minor officials, and team executives and marketing. From playing now to long-term athletic development on and off the court. This has a chance to turn into something very strong and forward-thinking. It is incredible the number of qualified people are on the MWBA board and there is a real strength within the franchise commitments," noted Janes.

The Halifax Thunder, owned by Brandon Rafuse - founder and Director of Thunder Selects Basketball, will feature five former and current Axewomen on the team roster including current players Haley McDonald, Jayda Veinot, Elizabeth Beals-Iseyemi, and former Axewomen Ellen Hatt and Abbey Duinker on the Halifax Thunder. Former Axewomen Chanel Smith and Jasmine Parent will suit up for the Halifax Hornets, while Erika Traikov (Berry) and Emily MacLeod will join the Moncton Mystics and Fredericton Freeze respectively.

"I wholeheartedly supported and believed in Brad's vision for the league, and I was honoured to be the first person he called about the idea (according to Brad). Since the initial phone call, I've tried to be available to listen and offer support, add experience and suggestions where appropriate," said Rafuse.

"There are countless reasons why I wanted to be involved. I was excited and honoured to enter our Halifax Thunder franchise into the MWBA as the league aligns so well with one of our (Thunder Selects) core missions of showcasing and celebrating women's basketball at all levels. I looked forward to playing a small part in building something special with other passionate franchise owners and league staff. Two years of everyone's hard work is about to pay off in a major way for these amazing athletes and role models when the 6 teams take to the court this weekend in Fredericton"

The league will offer those who are still playing basketball at University or College, an opportunity to play in the off-season. It will also offer those who hung up the basketball shoes after university or a pro experience in Europe to return to the sport.

Axewomen head coach Len Harvey is excited about the new league.

"I'm obviously excited to get to watch so many of our Axewomen playing, but honestly I'm equally as excited to get to watch players from everywhere playing. I think seeing players from different generations speaks to the fact that there is an appetite and a space for people to continue to be active and competitive well past their time in university," said Harvey.

Harvey added, "There's a lot to be inspired about by the whole league in relation to women in sport, but I think something that is often overlooked is the fact that they're trailblazing to show that leagues like this in many different sports are possible for the athletes who still are looking for a competitive outlet, not just a recreational one. Having the creativity and vision to make this happen is incredible. They took their time, got great people involved, and have managed to recruit rosters loaded with talent that fans will really be excited to get to see again. I know I'm excited to watch."

Former Acadia Basketball Axewoman Haley McDonald, who played professional basketball in Germany for the Falcons Bad Homburg TG after graduating at Acadia in 2020, will look at the MWBA this summer as an opportunity to continue her passion for playing basketball before returning to the Axewomen this coming season.

"Just the idea of calling someone retired after the age of 22 or 23 – that's pretty crazy to think about and this is really the only opportunity you get, other than if you go and play pro in Europe," noted McDonald.

"I think it is 27 (yrs. old) when you peak for basketball. When you graduate (from university) at the end of a fifth year, you have so much better abilities regarding making better decisions, your confidence, and all that sort of stuff, you really are peaking as you are leaving university. So to not have a space to go out a play is a disappointment," said former Axewoman Ellen Hatt.

As noted by both McDonald and Hatt in a recent podcast Now's the Time, which promotes the MWBA and women in sport, the gathering of athletes of different ages and walks of life is inspiring.

"We will have moms tending to their children on the sidelines and then jumping into the game and I think that is something that is really important too. Seeing that representation and being able to know that being older, you can continue to the things you love while also taking care of your family and career which hasn't been seen yet," said McDonald.

"The league isn't just going to showcase basketball players, but it will showcase women that are leaders both on the court and within their community, whether they do it through their jobs or volunteer service," noted Hatt.

The MWBA not only offers a great opportunity for women to extend their playing careers, but the league will also rest on several pillars of social justice. The MWBA website ( www.themwba.ca ) notes that the league will champion equity and inclusion and stand up against anti-Black racism, anti-Indigenous racism, and be allies within the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and support our community of persons with disabilities.

League play begins today (Saturday, May 14) in Fredericton at Leo Hayes High School beginning at 3:00 pm (ET) with the Thunder against the Moncton Mystics.