Davignon commits to Axewomen for 2025 season

WOLFVILLE — Maria Davignon, a guard from Halifax West High School, has committed to joining the Acadia Axewomen basketball team for the 2025-26 season.

The Whites Lake, N.S., native has been a key player in leading her high school team to three consecutive Halifax Metro League championships from 2022 to 2024. She was also named a Metro League All-Star and won the School Sport Nova Scotia Award. Davignon has further honed her skills with the Haliblaze travel team and Basketball Nova Scotia’s national squad, where she helped her teams win multiple tournaments across Canada and the U.S.

Standing at 5’7, Davignon is expected to bring leadership and intensity to the Acadia backcourt. She will also pursue a degree in kinesiology at Acadia.

Acadia head coach Len Harvey said the decision to recruit Davignon was an easy one.

“After watching her last season and again this summer with the provincial team, we were positive that we needed to get Maria here to Acadia to be part of our team,” Harvey said. “She’s a selfless leader, with a huge desire to continue to build her game. Her humble attitude combined with her work ethic, competitiveness, and engine that seemingly doesn’t quit were qualities we felt created a lot of synergy with our team.

"Maria shares our values, demonstrates them in her attitude and behaviours, and will be an excellent addition to the group. We’re very excited to get to coach her and know it will be great evenings for her family at War Memorial Gym getting to watch both her and her brother play.”

Davignon, whose brother Gabe also plays basketball at Acadia, said committing to the university felt like a natural step.

“Acadia has always been a special place for me because my brother Gabe plays basketball here, and my mom also went to university at Acadia,” she said. “When I went for my visit, Coach Len and the girls made me feel so welcome. My goals and values matched perfectly with the team, and I knew this was the place for me."

The Axewomen continue exhibition action this weekend at home when they host Waterloo and Regina on Stu Aberdeen Court, with their regular season not beginning until October 30 at Saint Mary's.