Basketball season is right around the corner, and the Gaels are ready to bring another year of thrilling, high-octane play to the ARC.
The Queen’s men’s basketball team is coming off a very strong season that saw them appear at the U Sports Championship in Vancouver, BC. Last year, the team was lauded for implementing its uniquely relentless, high-pressure system. Head Coach Stephan Barrie is looking to build off this momentum.
In an interview with The Journal, Barrie discussed the importance of the change in play. “We had a lot of [roster] turnover,” he said. “So, we made some changes that were well received from the group and ended up having a very successful season.”
Going into this season, the team graduated a significant number of players. Nonetheless, Barrie is very excited about the group he’s going into the season with, including 13 underclassmen.
He welcomes the turnover with open arms, calling it “exciting,” and highlighting his remaining veterans as “good leaders.” The coaching staff believes they have a blueprint to succeed based on last season’s achievements, as they prepare for a style of play they believe is going to ignite Gaels fans. “We’re going to follow what we did last year,” he said. “We play the fastest pace in the country, which makes it very chaotic for the opponent.”
He added that the makeup of this team isn’t going to be about one player; it’s going to be about a collective group, creating excitement for fans. Barrie explained that they play a minimum of 10 guys, saying, “There’s way more opportunity for more people to have an impact.”
Coach Barrie’s expectations for the ARC Gym include a group of dedicated players supported by an equally dedicated community. “Our guys are going to go out there and lay it on the line; we’re hopeful our student body and our community can continue to be behind us.”
On the flip side, the women’s basketball team is coming off an impressive season, going 15-7 in games ending in a heartbreaking loss in the OUA quarterfinals. Now, after a productive off-season, the Gaels are ready to take the next step.
In an interview with The Journal, Head Coach Claire Meadows said she’s excited about the upcoming season. “I feel like we’re firing on all cylinders,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of people put in the work from May to August, so we’re excited to finally play some games.”
Meadows’ team didn’t lose a player to graduation and have even added some big-time transfers. They landed 2024-25 U Sports rebound leader Kiyara Letlow, MSc ’26, Canada Basketball’s Sarah Reid, Kin ’29, and Redmond Redhawks prep-school standout Emma Burke, Sci ’29.
Meadows was also thrilled to share a switch in their play style this season. “Our depth allows us to run a style similar to our men’s team. That relentless, ‘come at you’ style.” The coaching staff believes this change will help create more turnovers and more offensive plays off the rush, making for fast-paced basketball.
She was clear that they’ve high expectations for this team. “We set our standards and values to our athletes,” she said. “If we focus on these, the rest will take care of themselves.” These high standards will lean on key players like Letlow, reigning OUA Rookie of the Year Brooke Hussey, Kin ’28, and Katrina Renon, ArtSci ’27, all of whom Meadows said “will have huge presences.”
Coach Meadows’ player to watch this season is Bella Gaudet, Comm ’26, returning after tearing her ACL last season.
Coach Meadows expects Gaels fans to be a huge part of their success, calling them “our sixth player.” “There’s no place like the ARC, especially when it is packed,” she added. Meadows is anticipating a “really fun style of play” and is looking forward to seeing the student body at the games.
Both teams open their OUA regular seasons on the road and won’t have their home openers until Nov. 7. However, the Tindall Invitational Tournament will run from Oct. 17 to 19, as both teams tune up against high-level opponents.
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Basketball, Gaels, Preview, Tindall Invitational Tournament
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