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By Dan Plouffe
With their playoffs on tap, the Capital Courts Academy got a lift from the Ottawa Sports Awards as they emerged as the biggest winners of the 73rd annual gala earlier this month.
CCA enjoyed a magical 2024-2025 season as they earned the program’s first perfect record en route to the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association women’s championship, and were selected as Ottawa’s top team of 2025.
Their head coach Fabienne Blizzard also collected coach of the year honours for the second time in her career, but she said doubling up with the team prize was particularly meaningful.
“Every time you win an award, it’s like it’s a team award, because we wouldn’t be able to do what we’re doing without them,” highlighted Blizzard, who also coached the Canadian U16 women’s national team in 2025.
“I love that every one of us were able to celebrate it,” she added, noting the team did video calls in advance of the banquet with grads who are now playing university basketball across North America.
When they went up on stage to collect their prize, Blizzard wore a T-shirt with every player’s face on it and the slogan, “It takes a village.”
“For me, the biggest thing is when these kids leave and they call me back just to talk about how things are going, that’s the biggest reward,” smiled Blizzard. “If I get an invite to their wedding, then I’ve done my job.”
CCA player Avani Tella concurred that team unity played a key part in the team’s success.
“The connections we made are lifelong. We just love being together,” Tella shared with reporter Isabella Disley for the Ottawa Sports Awards.
The Carleton University Ravens women’s basketball team and world-champion curling rinks have earned a number of the past team of the year awards. Having the Cairine Wilson Secondary School-based program selected speaks volumes about the impact CCA has made on local basketball.
“I thought it was amazing that they would recognize a high school team,” Blizzard signalled. “This is a group of girls that is so deserving, because they really kind of embody what it is to be resilient and to really go for your dreams, with a sisterhood, with a group of people who are now so connected.
“I was so thankful and feel so blessed that they’d acknowledge us among all of these amazing teams.”
CCA ready for OSBA postseason, with fellow Ottawa side Louis-Riel emerging into the mix
The Ottawa Sports Awards ceremony provided a lift for CCA after their team absorbed a bit of a gut-punch earlier the same day in their push for a repeat championship this season.
Players and coaches had to fast-break to the Infinity Convention Centre shortly after losing a 55-53 heartbreaker to Louis-Riel in the Rebelles’ home gym in Gloucester. It was quite the upset for the Rebelles, who’d lost to CCA 83-42 in their first meeting back in November.
“We didn’t play very well. It was one of those where [the players] came in casual because they had beaten them by 40 the last time,” Blizzard indicated while tipping her hat to the rising Rebelles, who went on to win four games in a row en route to a winning record of 8-6. “But it’s OK. I think our team needed a little wake-up call.”
Indeed, CCA responded by effectively doubling their next opponents’ scores in 79-40, 78-40 and 66-32 wins, before finishing the regular season with a 78-69 loss to unbeaten Royal Crown on Wednesday, which was significantly closer than the 72-46 defeat in their previous meeting.
The Rebelles, meanwhile, gave Royal Crown a scare in a close 59-51 loss on Thursday. Louis-Riel is set to host Lincoln Prep Sunday at noon with the winner then taking on the unenviable task of facing 13-1 west division-champion Crestwood in the quarter-final round of the OSBA championship weekend, which runs from March 5-8 in Markham.
CCA can’t be considered a favourite for the event, but the 2025 and 2022 champions can’t be counted out either.
Despite the graduation of eight players from last year’s history-making squad –including league MVP Megan Hollingsworth, Team Canada players Rachael Okokoh and Jahda Denis, and three more NCAA players – Capital Courts put together an 11-3 regular season this year.
“They have some great moments, and now it’s like, how do we become consistent?” Blizzard explained. “It’s by building habits off the court that transition to on the court. That’s what we’re working on.”
Ottawa’s top coach was appreciative when a scout recently told her that he can still see the successful CCA style shining through this season despite the many new faces in the lineup.
“We have a defensive identity, and we have girls that really want to work hard day in and day out,” Blizzard outlined. “It’s building culture and identity.”