The McGill Women’s Basketball Team capped their 2025-26 season with a return to the national spotlight, winning the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) Championship before finishing fourth at the U SPORTS Final 8 in Quebec City. The run combined defensive grit, timely performances, and a young core that proved it could contend with the nation’s best.

The Martlets delivered their biggest statement on Feb. 28, travelling to Quebec City to upset the top-seeded Laval University Rouge et Or 51-45 and capture the RSEQ championship. The victory secured McGill’s first conference title since 2018 and the 14th provincial banner in program history.

True to the Martlets’ identity, the game was defined by their defensive prowess. McGill controlled the pace early, building a small but steady lead through the first half behind strong rebounding and disciplined defensive pressure. Laval slowly chipped away at the deficit and briefly tied the game early in the fourth quarter, setting the stage for a tense finish.

At that point, McGill’s depth made the difference. Guard Daniella Mbengo delivered a spark off the bench, finishing with a game-high 18 points and scoring on back-to-back possessions midway through the final frame to restore the Martlets’ lead.

McGill then relied on composure and execution down the stretch, hitting key free throws and controlling the boards in the final minutes to seal the upset on Laval’s home court.

Forward Emilia Diaz-Ruiz played a crucial role inside the paint, collecting a team-high 11 rebounds while sustaining a broken nose from earlier in the playoffs. Teammates Lily Rose Chatila and Emma-Jane Scotten also contributed key minutes and timely baskets that helped propel the Martlets to the title. 

With the RSEQ trophy in hand, McGill entered the national tournament as the sixth seed and opened against third seed University of Calgary Dinos.

The Martlets quickly showed they belonged on the national stage. The teams were deadlocked at halftime after a tightly contested first half, with McGill matching Calgary possession-for-possession. But the Dinos gradually created separation in the second half, pulling away in the fourth quarter to secure a 58-45 win.

Diaz-Ruiz again stood out for McGill, recording a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds and earning player of the game honours for the Martlets.

The loss moved McGill into the consolation bracket, where the Martlets faced the seventh-seeded Carleton University Ravens in another tightly contested matchup. The game quickly became one of the most dramatic contests of the tournament. After trailing early, McGill surged back with a dominant second quarter to take a halftime lead, setting the stage for a gritty second half. 

Diaz-Ruiz once again led the Martlets offensively, finishing with 21 points and repeatedly answering Carleton’s scoring runs. Late free throws from the sophomore forward gave McGill a narrow lead with less than a minute remaining.

But the Ravens had one final push. After blocking what could have been a McGill game-winning attempt, Carleton quickly transitioned the other way and converted a layup at the buzzer to escape with a 64-62 victory.

The heartbreaking finish brought McGill’s season to a close with a 17–11 overall record and a well-deserved fourth-place national finish.

Beyond the action on the court, one of McGill’s most meaningful moments came during the tournament’s off-court honours. Emilia Diaz-Ruiz was named the national recipient of the Sylvia Sweeney Award, which recognizes outstanding community service by a student-athlete.

The sophomore’s impact extends well beyond basketball. A chemical engineering student with an impressive academic record, Diaz-Ruiz is deeply involved in campus initiatives, including leadership roles with the National Society of Black Engineers and other student organizations focused on outreach and mentorship.

The honour carries particular significance at McGill, as the award’s namesake, former national team captain Sylvia Sweeney, once starred for the Martlets. Diaz-Ruiz is the first McGill athlete to receive the award since it was created in 1994.

The Martlets ultimately finished just outside the podium, but their RSEQ championship and national semifinal appearance made one thing clear: McGill women’s basketball has re-established itself among Canada’s elite.