The MRU women's basketball team is set to open the 2025-26 season with a couple of tough weekends. After a 11-9 campaign last year, the Cougars are ready to extend their playoff appearance streak.

Tickets
Watch the Cougars live on Kenyon Court by purchasing your tickets here. MRU students and employees receive free tickets to all home games.

Cougars Women's Basketball on Canada West TV
Every women's basketball game will be available live and on demand this season exclusively on Canada West TV – the official streaming home of the conference. To purchase your pass, click here. 

2025-26 CW Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll:
Team - Points (First-place votes)

1. Saskatchewan Huskies - 255 (15)
2. Alberta Pandas - 235 (1)
3. UBC Thunderbirds - 231 (1)
4. Calgary Dinos - 201
5. Regina Cougars - 190
6. Victoria Vikes - 178
7. Trinity Western Spartans - 157
8. UBCO Heat - 152
9. Fraser Valley Cascades - 138
10. Mount Royal Cougars - 137
11. Lethbridge Pronghorns - 103
12. Manitoba Bisons - 88
13. Winnipeg Wesmen - 69
14. Brandon Bobcats - 68
15. Thompson Rivers WolfPack - 57
16. MacEwan Griffins - 33
17. UNBC Timberwolves - 20

2024-25 CW Regular Season Record:
11-9

2024-25 CW Regular Season Division Placement:
5th, Prairie Division 

2024-25 Post-Season Performance: 
0-1, lost in Canada West Play-in Game vs. Trinity Western Spartans 67-62

2025-26 Season Opener
Friday, October 24 at Alberta Pandas

2025-26 Home Opener
Friday, October 31 vs Saskatchewan Huskies

Head Coach / # season / Career CW reg. season record:
Robyn Fleckenstein / 7th season / 40-56

2024-25 CW regular season ranks: Offence
6th in Points (1358)
6th in Points per Game (67.9)
6th in FG Made per Game (24.3)
3rd in FG Attempts per Game (67.7)
9th in FG Percentage (35.9%)
3rd in 3PT Made per Game (7.3)
2nd in 3PT Attempts per Game (25.6)
5th in 3PT Percentage (29.5%)
10th in FT Made per Game (11.8)
9th in FT Attempts per Game (18.1)
13th in FT Percentage (64.7%)
4th in Offensive Rebounds per Game (16.3)
3rd in Assists per Game (16.6)
11th in Turnovers per Game (22.7)
9th in Offensive Efficiency (.817)
7th in Net Efficiency (.033)
6th in Field Goals Made/Attempts (486/1353)
3rd in 3PT Made/Attempts (151/511)
10th in Free Throws Made/Attempts (235/363)

2024-25 CW regular season ranks: Defence
6th in Defensive Rebounds per Game (29.4)
4th in Total Rebounds per Game (45.8)
5th in Rebound Margin per Game (+3.8)
5th in Steals per Game (13.1)
13th in Blocks per Game (2.5)
10th in Personal Fouls per Game (16.0)
8th in Points per Game Allowed (65.5)

2024-25 CW regular season leader: Total points (per game) (Returning)
274 (13.7) – Nora Luca

2024-25 regular season leader: Total assists (per game) (Returning)
62 (3.1) – Nora Luca

2024-25 CW regular season leader: Total rebounds (per game) (Returning)
187 (9.4) – Nora Luca

2024-25 CW regular season leader: Total field goals made/attempted (Returning)
88/180 (.489) – Jenika Martens

2024-25 CW regular season leader: Total three-pointers made/attempted (Returning)
29/90 (.322) – Asha Donnelly

2024-25 CW regular season leader: Total free throws made/attempted (Returning)
71/104 (.683) – Nora Luca

2024-25 CW regular season leader: Total steals (per game) (Returning)
40 (2.0) – Nora Luca

2024-25 CW regular season leader: Total blocks (per game) (Returning)
14 (0.7) – Jenessa Ramsoomair

2024-25 CW regular season leader: Total minutes (per game) (Returning)
545 (27.7) – Nora Luca

Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team)
Martha Lado / Guard / First Year / Winnipeg, MB / Kildonan-East Collegiate
Kayleigh Mark / Forward / First Year / Pitt Meadows, BC / Maple Ridge Secondary School
Savanah Sommerfeldt / Guard / First Year / Okotoks, AB / Foothills Composite High School
Aislyn Korella / Guard / First Year / Parker, CO / Legend High School
Elise Carline / Forward / First Year / Dunedin, NZ / Queens High School
Jewel Loewen / Guard / First Year /  Rockyview County, AB / George McDougall High School
Jaida Gold / Guard / Third Year / Medicine Hat, AB / Medicine Hat College

Key Departures (name / position / hometown / years with program)
Maddy Hooper / Guard / Perth, AUS / 5
Jamie Lalor / Guard / Red Deer, AB / 5
Megan Wellinghurst / Forward / Louisville, KT / 4
Hayley Lalor / Guard / Red Deer, AB / 1

Key performer: Nora Luca
Nora Luca enters her senior season as not only one of the top players in the Canada West but the entire country as well. Last season, Luca averaged 13.7 points per game on 35.5% shooting from the field. She also posted 9.3 rebounds per gam,e which was good for third-best in the conference. For her outstanding season, Luca was named a Canada West Third Team All-Star.

Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Calgarian will be relied upon to produce more than ever. Her versatile game has allowed her to excel in the CW as she has been able to utilize her size, strength and athleticism. While she is listed as a forward, Luca is not afraid to step outside the arc. Over her career at Mount Royal, she has been a reliable three-point shooter. The fifth year also has exceptional court vision and is a prominent playmaker. Luca ranked 10th in the league in assists last season with 62 total dimes.

Season Preview
Expectations for the Cougars are high for the Cougars heading into the 2025-26 season. Last season, the team tied their best record since joining the Canada West (11-9), ranking fifth in the Prairie Division. Unfortunately, the Cougars fell to the Trinity Western Spartans in the play-in round.

Looking ahead to the 2025-26 campaign, the Cougars have retained a substantial part of their core. Along with Nora Luca, Mount Royal has a set of veterans that could rank them near the top of the Canada West. Last season, Asha Donnelly really came into her own in the Cougar backcourt, complementing fellow guard Marissa Richards. The combo is crafty and skilled and will be key to the team's success this season.

After a long recovery from a knee injury, Jenika Martens returned to the court last season and was productive for the Cougars. Now in her fifth year, Martens is poised for another hard-working season.

Last season, the Cougars were one of the top three-point shooting teams in the conference, much in part to Maddy Hooper. With Hooper's graduation, Mount Royal will have to rely much more on other players to keep up their success from deep. Along with Hooper, Jamie Lalor departs the program after an illustrious career. Her speed and tenacity on the court will be missed by the Cougars. 

With a mixture of veterans and younger players, head coach Robyn Fleckenstein is optimistic her team will rise to the challenge in a tough league.

"With a younger core our group will need to depend on some young athletes playing bigger roles. Our first two weekends are Alberta followed by Saskatchewan, which will certainly set the tone in terms of expectations. But we know winning is ultimately very difficult in our big and physical league. Our keys to success will lie in our ability to play our style of basketball and riding out the challenges of the season," said Fleckenstein.