VANCOUVER – After improving by six wins to post a record of 17-3 in the first year under head coach Isabel Ormond, UBC Thunderbirds women's basketball is bolstering its talented roster with the addition of four exciting new players.
An NCAA DI transfer is joining the T-Birds this season, alongside a local high school sharpshooter and twin wings from Ontario, fresh off of a high school provincial championship three-peat.
"I'm really excited for the depth and versatility that our group of recruits brings," remarked Ormond. "We have a fifth-year transfer who has experience playing in big tournaments and big games, she brings that leadership that you need in the locker room. We have another player who's also got a lot of winning under her belt and really stretches our range from the three-point line. We also have two players from Ontario who have competed and won a lot, they know what it takes to put your head down and win."
"I'm really excited about the different things that these four can bring and how they can push and challenge us as a team and as a staff as we make our nationals run at home this season."
Jessica Clarke is transferring to UBC from Washington State University where she spent four years playing for the Cougars in the NCAA's top division. Clarke appeared in more than 20 games in each of her last three seasons at Washington State, knocking down over 90% of her free throws during her last two campaigns. She also poured in a season-high 10 points for the Cougars, on five of six shooting, in WSU's win over Santa Clara in the second round of the 2024 WBIT.
The 6'4 center will be a major presence in a Thunderbirds frontcourt that is already among the best in the country, with
Mona Berlitz and
Olivia Weekes both being named Canada West All-Stars a season ago. Clarke specializes as a back to the basket scorer with a knack for making plays out of the short corner.
The senior, who grew up in North Vancouver, said that she's excited to study Arts in the fall while spending her final year of eligibility playing so much closer to home.
"UBC is my hometown team and grew up watching the Thunderbirds," commented Clarke. "After four years in the US, I am excited to study at this prestigious institution and play for Coach Isabel with this group of girls."
"We are thrilled Jessica will be returning home and joining our UBC team for the upcoming season," added Ormond. "She will make an immediate impact with her big presence defensively, ability to score in the paint, and rebound on both ends. I have coached Jessica before when she played on the U19 Canadian National Team in the 2021 World Cup. Her experiences, both internationally with Canada Basketball and in the NCAA, give her a deep understanding of the game, which is so valuable to our program."
Also from North Vancouver is new T-Birds recruit Reese Tam. The combo guard just graduated from Argyle Secondary School and will be studying at UBC's Sauder School of Business.
Tam was a AAAA Provincial Championship All-Star in her final year with the Pipers, also named a Bigger Than Basketball Provincial All-Star, after averaging 20 points per game, hitting over 40% of her threes, and adding more than three steals per game in her last high school season.
"I feel that my best attribute on the court is my shooting, especially from the three," reflected Tam. "I am most effective when I have the opportunity to take shots, which can also help create space for my teammates."
"We are excited to bring in a local shooting specialist in Reese," said Ormond. "She has the ability to stretch the floor with her three-point range and brings great court vision to distribute the ball. Reese plays a fast transition game that will flow well with our team. She can pick up new skills and concepts quickly, which gives her the ability to keep improving her game and positively impact our team."
The final two recruits are twin sisters Keira and Nicole Daly, coming west to join the blue and gold from Hamilton, Ontario. The two rangy wings attended Cathedral High School, the same secondary school as Coach Ormond, where they won the Ontario High School Championship in all three seasons playing for the Gaels, with the COVID shutdown denying them the opportunity to make it a four-peat.
"We are incredibly excited to add Keira and Nicole to our team," commented Ormond. "As teammates, they both had a very successful high school career and are set to make an impact at the university level."
Keira dropped 45 points in a provincial semifinal and was twice named MVP of their powerhouse high school squad. Describing her best attributes as teamwork, work ethic, selflessness, and shooting ability, she is set to begin her studies in Kinesiology in September.
"I fell in love with the campus and also love the quality of the academics," said Keira, when asked why she chose UBC.
"Keira brings a strong perimeter presence on both ends of the floor with her ability to score and defend in multiple ways," added Ormond. "She has a high basketball IQ that will allow her to excel with our program and throughout her post-secondary career."
Nicole Daly is taking a different academic path, majoring in Commerce within UBC's Sauder School of Business. She also credited the beauty of the campus and the school's academics in choosing to come west, adding that her great experience with the coaching staff during the recruiting also helped her make the decision.
While the Dalys each stand at 5'10, and share both a last name and birthday, Nicole's basketball identity is quite different than her sister's.
"On the court, my best attributes are my defence, getting to the paint and passing," said Nicole. "I am also at my best in a loud environment, which is why, after seeing UBC's bench energy, I knew that I had to attend."
"Nicole has a strong defensive foundation that will add to our program," said Ormond. "She has a competitive mindset and a will to win that will challenge us to be better every day."
The four new T-Birds will see their first action against U SPORTS competition in an exhibition tournament at War Memorial Gym starting on October 9
th. The Thunderbirds' Canada West regular season begins October 31
st with a tough, Halloween test against the defending conference Bronze Medalist UFV Cascades in Abbotsford. The team's home opener is November 2nd against the Trinity Western Spartans, beginning the road to the U SPORTS Championships, which will be hosted at UBC from March 13-16, 2025.
