UBC Sports Hall of Fame
Outstanding player on four of UBC's most formidable women's teams, paced UBC to four Canada West titles and three national championships. Member of Canada's National Team from 1970 until '76, played for Canada at '76 Olympics, setting the single-game Olympic assist record.
The UBC career of Joanne Sargent, one of the outstanding players of the school's basketball history, was one that spanned the "golden age" of "Thunderette" basketball. For her five years, from 1968-69 until 1972-73, she was a vital cog in the four Canada West championships, one Canadian Senior 'A' championship and three Canadian University championships won by UBC.
The winning momentum, which started with the Canadian championship team of 1969-70, was maintained through the years of Sargent's career and beyond, until 1975, truly the golden years of UBC women's basketball. The fact it took another 19 years before a UBC women's team would win another Canada West title, emphasizes the uniqueness of this era.
Sargent, relatively small in stature, made up for her size with her hustle and leadership qualities. Even though defence and play-making were her strengths, she was consistently among the leading scorers on these strong UBC teams. "She matured as a player at UBC, from one who was talented but relatively undisciplined, into a mature, solid, team player,” relates former National Team coach Darlene Currie.
At the Canadian university championship in Montreal in March 1973, Sargent received a standing ovation from the Montreal crowd for her fine play and consistent effort. She and her UBC teammates had outscored their opposition 117-69 in the national semifinal and final games, capturing this 1973 Canadian title in the process.
Joanne came to UBC in 1967 from Salmon Arm, B.C., a town known for producing great female basketball players. With UBC, she was described as a good ball-handler and play-maker as well as a good person to have on the team. "She was a lot of fun, with a sense of humour" remembers a former coach. According to UBC Hall of Famer Ruth Wilson who coached Sargent at UBC, "Jo was one of the best. She loved the game. I would choose her over many others as UBC's best player."
Her aggressive style on defence caused many turnovers, ultimately producing UBC baskets. The UBC record for career assists is an unofficial record that is still held by Joanne Sargent.
From 1970 until 1976, Sargent was also a member of Canada's National Team, one of the few UBC players to achieve this level and according to two of her National Team coaches, Currie and Wilson, "she was a standout... she developed into one of the best". Sargent is also one of only five UBC women to play basketball for Canada at the Olympics – participating at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. It was at these Olympics Joanne set a women's Olympic basketball assist record that stood until 2000.
Sargent also played on several Canadian Senior' A' national championship teams after graduating from UBC, being selected the Canadian championship MVP in 1981 while playing for the winning BC team. In addition, Joanne coached at UBC, guiding the UBC women's Junior Varsity squad during the 1973-74 season.
Joanne also has the distinction of being a member of two UBC Hall of Fame teams, the teams of 1969-70 and 1972-73, is an inductee in the Basketball BC Hall of Fame and the BC Sports Hall of Fame.
She entered the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.
Sargent's remarkable playing career continued well into the 1990s playing Senior 'B' basketball – the top league outside of university – and one of the best players in the league! According to coach Currie, Sargent became a better player her last 10 years. "I regard her much more highly now than I did 20 years ago," stated the coach. The maturation as a player that started in her university years obviously continued for the youthful Sargent.
In an era when women's basketball accomplishments were seldom acknowledged and what few records that were kept are now virtually non-existent, it is gratifying to uncover a UBC and provincial "gem" from terrain of scant documentation. In the words of former UBC and National coach Ruth Wilson when recalling Joanne Sargent, "That fire – she never stopped running!"
Researched and written by Fred Hume, UBC Athletics Historian
