X-Women Basketball announce all-female assistant coaching staff for 2025-26 season

Program underscores commitment to equity, leadership, and safe sport

ANTIGONISH, N.S. - For the first time since 2008, the St. Francis Xavier X-Women Basketball program will enter the season with an all-female assistant coaching staff. Head Coach Matt Spencer confirmed that Katie Upham (Lead Assistant Coach), Alana MacKay (née Lawn), Ekaterina Karchevskaya, and Bobbi-Jo Colburn will round out the staff for the 2025-26 campaign.

The move was purposeful. Spencer served on the StFX Athletics Equity & Safe Sport Committee since 2024; the committee's mandate included promoting equitable opportunities, creating safe environments for student-athletes, and ensuring coaching and support staff reflect inclusive values throughout the StFX community. Spencer wanted to turn those ideas into action, so the decision to select an all-female assistant coach group was not an accident.

"Our athletes deserve to see women in leadership roles and to feel supported by them," Spencer said. "At the same time, you've got to acknowledge that Katie, Alana, Kat, and Bobbi have all built up a genuine expertise in basketball and coaching. This is about creating opportunities for dedicated, competent women to lead - both as developing coaches and as student-athletes learning to find their voice. We are committed to safe sport, to equity, and to building a culture where empowerment is at the core."

Spencer sees it as one way to "empower women to lead" - in practices, in games, in mentorship, and in the broader culture of the team. For players, this means seeing more representation in leadership roles. It also aligns with national and university trends toward giving women more opportunities in leadership positions - not just as athletes, but as coaches, administrators, and decision-makers. The move underscores the belief that safe sport and equity aren't just about protocols; they are about representation, respect, mentorship, and accountability.

"The Summer of Katie"

Katie Upham brings a blend of playing experience, recent coaching development, and a vision for growth. A former guard who played at the University of Calgary and StFX, she has since built her coaching career around player development and mentorship.

This past summer, Upham expanded her horizons south of the border, spending time with the Utah Jazz (NBA) and the University of Utah women's basketball program thanks in part to her participation in the U SPORTS Female Coaching Apprentice Program. Immersed in high-level environments, she gained exposure to practice planning, player development sessions, and advanced analytics while learning from coaches at the game's highest levels.

The idea to have Upham spend time with a professional team originally came from Spencer, but it was one of Spencer's mentors – Jason Hurley, head coach at Laurentian University – who helped bring it to fruition. "I had bumped into Hurley during a recruiting trip and was explaining what we wanted to try to put together for Katie's professional development. He didn't hesitate for a second. He made a couple of calls and before we knew it Katie was in a group chat with one of the Utah Jazz assistant coaches, planning out the summer trip."

For her part, Upham described the summer experience as "transformative," equipping her with fresh tools and perspectives she now brings to the X-Women. With her combination of playing pedigree, coaching insight, and recent professional development, Upham is poised to make a major impact as Lead Assistant Coach.

MacKay back for year 4

A former X-Women player, Alana MacKay (née Lawn) rejoined the program as a coach in 2022 and has been a steady presence ever since. Her loyalty, caring approach, and ability to connect with student-athletes have been instrumental in the team's resurgence over the past few seasons.

Her Bachelor of Education degree from StFX reflects her teaching background and her commitment to helping athletes thrive both on and off the court. MacKay's continuity and deep program knowledge make her a trusted voice within the staff. In addition to her team responsibilities, MacKay has stepped into a leadership role with the program's annual NEXT LEVEL Academy. "Alana approached me in the summer with the idea of taking on a bigger role with the Academy and I was all for it. She brings awesome energy, a comprehensive knowledge base, and really detailed organizational skills. This has definitely been a win-win," commented Spencer.

Karchevskaya transitioning from the spotlight to the sidelines

Ekaterina Karchevskaya, from Mogilev, Belarus, adds international and professional experience to the X-Women bench. Before arriving in Antigonish as part of Spencer's first recruiting class in 2022, she played professionally for four seasons in Europe, including two years in the FIBA EuroCup. "Kat" as she is affectionately known within the team, had also represented her country in over 300 national team matches between 5v5 and 3x3 in both age group and senior divisions.

During her three years as a player at StFX, she was a two-time AUS Second-Team All-Star and a two-time team MVP, respected for her skills, IQ, and competitiveness. Now transitioning from star player to coach, Karchevskaya offers a unique perspective for the roster - bridging international, professional, U SPORTS, and now coaching experiences.

Familiar face, but new surroundings for Colburn

Bobbi-Jo Colburn played with the Calgary Dinos from 2016–20 and 2021–23, including four seasons under Spencer when he was Associate Head Coach, and as a teammate of Upham. In 2020-21, she suited up professionally for Baerum Basketball in Norway's top division, where she led the league in scoring before the season was cut short due to COVID restrictions. Following her playing career, she launched her own basketball skills development academy in Calgary, working with athletes to refine fundamentals, build confidence, and reach their potential.

Now pursuing a Bachelor of Education at StFX, Colburn brings her international playing experience, entrepreneurial drive, and passion for player development to the X-Women sidelines.

A Purposeful Step Forward

Together, the four assistant coaches represent a powerful blend of experiences, but a common desire to serve the players' development and holistic growth. Their addition reflects not just a coaching philosophy, but a broader vision. For Spencer and the X-Women, success is measured not only in wins and losses but in building an environment where women are both challenged and supported to lead, athletes thrive, and safe sport principles guide the way. With this historic all-female assistant coaching staff in place, the X-Women enter 2025-26 with a sharp focus - determined to compete at the highest level while modeling equity, empowerment, and leadership on and off the court.

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