The highly anticipated National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) college basketball campaign resumed on Nov. 1. With a six-month-long off-season, NCAA fans are eager to return to the craziness that defines Division I (D1) college basketball in the United States.
With the public rise of star players in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) like Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers, NCAA women’s basketball has also seen a recent increase in viewership and popularity. According to ESPN, the 2024-2025 women’s NCAA season finished with 8.5 billion total minutes of viewership, the second-most on record.
Amid rising interest and investment in women’s collegiate-level athletics, the NCAA has also seen a surge of Canadian women’s basketball players. The league offers players competitive and professional opportunities—such as playing for historically significant schools, gaining exposure to WNBA scouts, and securing name, image, and likeness deals—that provide athletes with additional income. However, major league success is not guaranteed for NCAA athletes, who must navigate intense pressures both on and off the court.
This season, more than 150 Canadian women student-athletes are playing D1 basketball in the NCAA. Here are five players to pay extra attention to during the 2025-2026 season.
Cassandre Prosper
Prosper, a six-foot-three guard from Montreal, is returning for her final season with the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Last season, she was one of only two athletes to appear in all 34 of the team’s games, showcasing her reliability and consistency on the court. So far this year, Prosper has averaged 19.0 points with a field goal percentage of 66.7 per cent, making it her best season yet. Beyond college basketball, Prosper has also represented Canada at multiple levels—U17, U19, and on the senior Canadian national team—earning a bronze medal with Team Canada at the 2023 Fédération Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) AmeriCup.
Toby Fournier
Fournier is looking to build on her impressive momentum as she enters her second season with the Duke University Blue Devils. The 10th-ranked prospect in the ESPNW 2024 class, the Toronto-born forward made an immediate impact in her freshman year, earning the title of Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year as she led the Blue Devils in scoring, field goal percentage, and free throws made. She also helped Team Canada earn a bronze medal in the 2023 FIBA U19 World Championship. In Duke’s dominant home opener this season, Fournier put on another standout performance, scoring 27 points—just one shy of her career high.
Jasmine Bascoe
Bascoe, a five-foot-seven guard from Milton, Ontario, began her basketball journey at King’s Christian Collegiate. She committed to Villanova University’s Wildcats last year, averaging 16.2 points a game. Bascoe’s stellar performance earned her All-BIG EAST First Team honours, and she was selected as a member of the All-BIG EAST Freshman Team. Under her leadership, the Wildcats have opened their 2025-2026 season with a 2–2 record, signalling a promising year ahead.
Sisi Eleko
This Montreal-born, six-foot-two forward played basketball at Saint-Laurent High School and New Hope Academy before committing to Canisius University in 2022. Eleko quickly became a standout player and earned a spot in the All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference team. Seeking new challenges and opportunities for growth, Eleko transferred to Eastern Michigan University last year, where she made an immediate impact. Starting in 27 of 28 games, Eleko led the Eastern Michigan Eagles, averaging 17.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.
Delaney Gibb
Earning the title of unanimous Big 12 Freshman of the Year last season, Albertan Gibb hopes to continue her success with the Brigham Young University Cougars this year. Like many of the standout Canadians making an impact in the NCAA, Gibb has also represented Canada across multiple youth levels of the national women’s program; she shared the court with Prosper as teammates during the 2023 FIBA Americup. The Cougars have pounced on this season with a 3–0 start. Gibb’s leadership will be key as they look to maintain this early success.
