Tommies women’s basketball player earns CCAA top honour

Tommie Charlee Connors holds up the design for her CCAA Women's Basketball Player of the Year ring. (Submitted: Charlee Connors)

A member of the St. Thomas University (STU) women’s basketball team has been named the top player in the country for the first time.

Fourth-year post Charlee Connors was awarded the 2026 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Women’s Basketball Player of the Year. 

“It’s definitely very surreal,” said Connors. “There’s obviously so many incredible and talented athletes across the entire country. So to be named the player of the year was just absolutely incredible. It's kind of something that I find hard to wrap my head around.”

She said that she was surrounded by her teammates when her name was announced. They were all cheering her on as she walked onto the stage to receive the award.

“They were screaming— I've never felt so loved by a group of people before in my life,” she said. “They just were all so happy for me and coming down from the stage I was immediately greeted by all 15 of them giving me a big hug and just being so excited for me.”

Connors averaged 14.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game this season. She also had the league-best 81.9 free-throw percentage. 

Due to a shoulder injury, Connors missed multiple games this season as well.

“I'm a pretty physical player, so I don't really know if there's many times I'm not feeling some sort of pain cycle,” she said. “Whether it’s like a twisted ankle or my shoulder, I've had multiple severe concussions and whiplash and so those things build up for sure.”

The Tommies had a near-perfect year. They only lost one game during the regular season, before going on to dominate the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association Championship.

Connors believes her success this season came from the chemistry between her and her teammates. The majority of the group have been playing together for the past two seasons, having only lost one member from last year.

“They're the ones who are pushing me every day at practice,” she said. “They're the ones who at our team workouts, they're adding weight. If I don't think I can lift heavier, they're the ones who tell me I can. They're just so supportive in every aspect, both in basketball and school.”

Connors celebrates with her teammates after it was announced she had won the award. (Submitted: Charlee Connors)

Along with her performance on the court, the award reflects the player’s commitment to academics.

Connors has a 4.2 GPA, along with being on the Dean’s List multiple times. She and her teammates study together constantly and help each other if someone is struggling in class.

Her coach, Fred Connors, agrees that the award is something she couldn’t have accomplished without her teammates. 

“It’s something you can’t win alone,” he said. “As a group, they helped her through challenges this season. It’s really hard to wrap my head around where we have so many outstanding players in this program.”

Leaving STU this year, Connors believes that she would be nothing without the athletic staff that supports her as well.

“Having the moment, just seeing my teammates running out to the floor, everyone hugging, like I was able to run up … my entire family was in the crowd,” she said. “It's probably going to stick out in my memory.”