Vikes women’s varsity teams dominate nationally

Women's sports are in the spotlight and thriving like never before, with sold-out stadiums, record viewership, landmark media deals and the expansion of several professional leagues. Riding this wave, the University of Victoria Vikes women's teams are taking centre stage, rewriting records and claiming Canadian university sports' highest honours.

From a sixth-straight U SPORTS Women's Field Hockey National Championship title to a third-consecutive Canadian University Rowing Championship banner, Vikes women's varsity teams are living up to the hype and ensuring everyone's watching women's sports. 

"It's been a great year so far, and this incredible success reflects the strength of our student-athletes, coaches and support staff, as well as the inclusive, high-performance culture we strive to foster at UVic," says Julianne Zussman, acting director of varsity performance sport. "Seeing our varsity teams achieve at this level is not only inspiring but a powerful reminder of how far women's sports have come—and where they're heading. It's an exciting time to be a part of this movement."

A field hockey dynasty

The UVic women's field hockey team has firmly established itself as a dynasty in Canadian university sports. Capturing its sixth-consecutive U SPORTS national championship title with a 1-0 victory over York University on Nov. 3, the Vikes once again demonstrated their dominance on the national stage. With this latest triumph, the program now boasts 17 national championships, underscoring its legacy as one of the most decorated teams in U SPORTS history.

The path to the 2024 title was nothing short of remarkable, sweeping the national tournament and outscoring their opponents 11-0 over four games while not conceding a single goal. Anchored by second-year standout goalkeeper Anaïs Chace and a resolute defensive line, the Vikes recorded four straight shutouts. On the offensive side, fifth-year student Anni Kleinschmidt proved to be the difference-maker, scoring in all four games, including the game-winning penalty stroke in the gold medal match.

Rowing towards a legacy

The women's rowing team continued its reign of excellence, capturing its third-straight Canadian University Rowing Championship banner on Nov. 3 at Elk Lake. The victory secured a "three-peat" for the Vikes and marked the program's 14th national title, cementing their position as one of Canada's premier university rowing programs. 

The Vikes medaled in all six events over the weekend, finishing no lower than second in any race. Fourth-year student-athlete Sai Sai Faubert led the charge with a stellar performance, winning gold in the lightweight single (1x) and anchoring the lightweight four (4+) crew to its first victory in the event since 2011. Faubert's efforts earned her the Female Athlete of the Year award, while head coach Jane Gumley received Coach of the Year honours for the fourth consecutive season—the first female Canadian university coach ever to do so.

For Gumley, who's proud to be recognized as a top coach, her focus has always been and remains on building a positive team culture. 

"We work hard as a team to ensure everyone understands their importance to our success. Our environment is both collaborative and competitive—while athletes push each other, they also see the bigger picture: that helping each other improve makes everyone stronger. I believe the focus on team culture has been the key to success over the past four years," says Gumley.

Women's rugby strike silver 

The women's rugby team capped off an incredible season with a silver medal at the U SPORTS Women's Rugby National Championship. Entering the tournament as the eighth and lowest seed, the Vikes stunned the competition on the way to their second-straight championship final appearance, matching their remarkable run from 2023.

The team's 2024 performance is another step in solidifying the program's growing reputation as a national powerhouse.

Women's cross country brings home bronze

The UVic women's cross-country team finished on the podium at the 2024 U SPORTS Cross Country Championships. Finishing in third place, the podium finish marks the first for the Vikes women's side since a second-place finish in 2011. All five Vikes scorers finished in the top 50, with fifth-year student-athlete Elise Coates leading the way with a fifth-place overall finish.

En route to their national bronze medal, the Vikes captured the women's team title, the first Canada West conference banner for the program since 2017, and the 22nd overall title. Making the win even more special, head coach and two-time Olympian Hilary Stellingwerff was named the Canada West Women's Coach of the Year after guiding the program to its first conference banner under her leadership.

Women's soccer finishes strong

The University of Victoria women's soccer team reached a milestone in 2024, advancing to their first Canada West gold medal match since 2017 with a 1-0 shutout victory over the top prairie seed, the University of Calgary, on Nov. 1. The win also marked a historic achievement for head coach Tracy David, who recorded her 200th overall victory at the helm of the Vikes program.

Finishing the year with a 9-2-5 record, the Vikes demonstrated grit and determination, earning one of two Canada West berths for the first time since 2017 and continuing to build toward a bright future for the program.

The success of the Vikes varsity women's teams is a testament to the rising prominence of women's sports, thriving in a time when their achievements are commanding the attention they deserve.