Health, depth will determine Gaels women's basketball team's success this season

Team opens OUA season with three road games before entertaining Ottawa on Nov. 7.

Claire Meadows is hoping a healthy roster will bode well for her team's chances to compete for a championship this season.

The head coach and the rest of the Queen's Gaels women's basketball team are preparing for the OUA season opener a week from this Friday.

Five players were out with season-ending injuries last season forcing Meadows and her coaching staff to rely on their younger core.

The Gaels finished the 2024-2025 season with a 16 and 8 record and reached the quarterfinals before bowing out to the Ottawa Gee-Gees.

Meadows say the five players have all recovered from their injuries and are expected to be ready for season opener. She says last season has showed that they can compete with other schools without relying on one or two players to carry the team.

Meadows says opponents can expect to see the Gaels battle hard each and every game.

The Gaels are hosting the Tindall Invitational Tournament at the ARC during Homecoming Weekend.

Then they go to Thunder Bay to take on the Thunderwolves to open the 2025-2026 OUA season on Oct 24. They will play two more on the road before welcoming the Gee-Gees at the ARC on Nov. 7 and the Ravens on the 8th.

The Gaels went 0-4 against Ottawa and Carleton last season and Meadows says her team will be in tough against them again this season.

Story by Ken Hashizume