Top-seeded Saskatchewan women's basketball team enters nationals in familiar position

There are many similarities that can be found between this year's University of Saskatchewan women's basketball team and the 2019-20 Huskies squad that won a national title.

Both started the year on a prolonged winning streak of 15 games in 2019-20 and 16 in 2023-24.

Both dispatched the University of Alberta in the Canada West (CW) title game.

Both were named the No. 1 seed at the U Sports Women's Final 8 tournament, with this year's edition in Edmonton beginning Thursday at 2:30 p.m. ET and running through Sunday, streaming live on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem.

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And both feature upperclasswomen in prominent roles that gained championship-winning experience early in their U Sports careers.

The 2019-20 team featured 2020 Final 8 MVP Sabine Dukate and Megan Ahlstrom book-ending their U Sports careers with national titles in 2016 and 2020, and this season, Megan's sister Carly and Andrea Dodig are hoping to win their second championship.

"I think anytime you have national champions on your team that can share their experiences and know what it took to win at the highest level, that's invaluable," Thomaidis said.

"When it comes from a player instead of from a coach, it is much more meaningful."

In addition to fifth-year forward Ahlstrom and fourth-year guard Dodig in the starting five are a pair of third-year guards in Téa DeMong and Gage Grassick, who are both coming off big seasons.

Coming through in the clutch with a career-high 28 points in the 73-42 CW final win over Alberta on Feb. 25, Grassick can just as easily play the role of facilitator when needed with a talented and deep Huskies squad.

Gage Grassick with the 3⃣ to take the