Neita, James and McNutt receive AUS accolades

2025-26 AUS women's basketball major awards and all-stars announced

Acadia's Samantha Russell named most valuable player

(HALIFAX, N.S.) - Atlantic University Sport is pleased to announce the 2025-26 AUS women's basketball all-stars and major award winners as selected by the conference's eight head coaches following regular season play.

Samantha Russell, a fifth-year wing for the Acadia Axewomen, was chosen as this year's AUS women's basketball most valuable player.

Other major award winners include Dalhousie's Cairo Henning, AUS rookie of the year; STFX's Shannon Neita, defensive player of the year; Dalhousie's Melina Collins, who wins the student-athlete community service award; Cape Breton's Kristen Taylor, who is the AUS nominee for the U SPORTS Tracy MacLeod Award; and UNB's Erin McAleenan who has been named AUS Coach of the Year for the first time in her career.  

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Samantha Russell, Acadia Axewomen

Samantha Russell of the Acadia Axewomen is the Atlantic University Sport women's basketball most valuable player for the 2025-26 season.

A finance student from Dartmouth, N.S., Russell led the AUS in scoring this season, averaging 16.4 points per game. She also led Acadia in rebounding at 8.4 boards per contest and added 3.9 assists per game.

Russell started all 20 regular season games for the Axewomen and averaged 33.1 minutes per game. Defensively, she ranked second in the conference in steals with 70, averaging 3.5 per game. She also finished fourth in AUS in blocks with 26 on the season.

Her contributions helped Acadia finish the regular season with a 15-5 record, securing second place in the conference standings and a first-round playoff bye through to the championship semifinal.

Russell was also named an AUS first team all-star this season. The honour marks her third consecutive year receiving all-star recognition and her second straight first team selection, after earning second team honours in 2023-24. In 2022-23, she was the AUS nominee for the U SPORTS Tracy MacLeod Award.

She now becomes the Atlantic conference nominee for the Nan Copp Award for U SPORTS player of the year. Four players from the AUS conference have earned the national honour: UNB's Jayda Veinot (2023-24), UPEI's Jenna Mae Ellsworth (2019-20), Acadia's Paloma Anderson (2017-18) and Saint Mary's Justine Colley (2012-13 and 2013-14).

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Cairo Henning, Dalhousie Tigers

Cairo Henning of the Dalhousie Tigers has been named the AUS women's basketball rookie of the year for 2025-26.

A first-year guard from Montreal, Que., Henning started all 20 games for the Tigers in her debut campaign and led all AUS freshmen in scoring, averaging 10.2 points per game. She also contributed 5.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists per contest.

Henning made an impact on the defensive end as well, finishing fourth in the conference in steals with an average of 2.2 per game.

In addition to being named the conference's top rookie, she also earned a place on the AUS all-rookie team.

She will now represent the conference as the AUS nominee for the Kathy Shields Award for U SPORTS Rookie of the Year. The most recent Atlantic conference player to win the national honour was former Cape Breton CAPERS standout Kiyara Letlow during her rookie season in 2021-22.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Shannon Neita, STFX X-Women
Shannon Neita of the STFX X-Women has been chosen as the 2025-26 AUS women's basketball defensive player of the year.

A third-year business student from Toronto, Ont., Neita led the conference and finished third nationally in steals this season, averaging 3.8 per game.

The six-foot forward also topped the AUS in rebounding, averaging 10.1 boards per contest.

In addition to her defensive contributions, Neita averaged 12.4 points and 2.2 assists per game, playing a key role in STFX's 13-7 regular season record.

The X-Women allowed 57.1 points against per game this season, the second-lowest total in the conference.

Neita is the fifth STFX player to be named the conference's top defensive player, and the first since 2013-14 when former X-Women standout Rebecca Sheehan took home the honour.

She now becomes the conference nominee for U SPORTS Defensive Player of the Year. Only two AUS players have ever won the national honour—former Saint Mary's standouts Clara Gascoigne (2024-25 AUS MVP) last season and Kennisha-Shanice Luberisse in 2015-16.

STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Melina Collins, Dalhousie Tigers
Melina Collins from the Dalhousie Tigers is the 2025-26 recipient of the AUS student-athlete community service award and the AUS nominee for the U SPORTS Sylvia Sweeney Award.

A fourth-year psychology student from Halifax, N.S., Collins has distinguished herself both academically and in the community. She posted a 4.3 GPA in the fall 2025 term and is a four-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian and Dean's List honouree.

A leader on and off the court, Collins played in all 20 games for the Tigers this season, earning 14 starts and averaging 26.4 minutes per game. She contributed 8.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per contest.

Collins has demonstrated a sustained commitment to community service throughout her university career. She volunteers with the IWK Children's Hospital Special Visitor Program and supports the Nova Scotia Health Authority's Low Intensity Exercise Program, assisting individuals living with chronic illnesses.

She serves as the Women's Basketball representative on Dalhousie's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and volunteers with the university's Hear Me Roar outreach initiative.

She also gives back to the sport through the Prospect Bulls Junior Bulls program, mentoring young athletes, and played a key role in developing the Tigers Read program—a literacy-based mentorship initiative pairing Dalhousie student-athletes with elementary school children for weekly one-on-one reading support in partnership with the Halifax Central Library.

Collins is the seventh player from Dalhousie to win this award and the first since the 2015-16 season when former Tigers standout Ainsley MacIntyre earned the honour.

Collins now becomes the AUS nominee for the U SPORTS Sylvia Sweeney Award. UNB standout Katie Butts is the most recent Atlantic conference recipient of the national honour, which she took home last season. MacIntyre is the lone player in Tigers team history to win the award nationally.  

TRACY MACLEOD AWARD: Kristen Taylor, Cape Breton CAPERS

Kristen Taylor of the Cape Breton CAPERS is the 2025-26 AUS nominee for the U SPORTS Tracy MacLeod Award. This award rewards a women's basketball player who demonstrates determination, perseverance and unwavering spirit to continue playing the game of basketball.

A business student in her first year of eligibility from Fredericton, N.B., Taylor is competing in her first full season after three consecutive years derailed by significant knee injuries.

Beginning in 2022, she endured three separate season-ending injuries, including multiple ACL and meniscus tears, each requiring surgery and extensive rehabilitation. Despite the physical and mental toll, Taylor remained committed to her recovery and to her team. She appeared in five games last season but was granted her year of eligibility back due to season-ending injury.

Now technically in her first year of competition, Taylor has made an immediate impact for the CAPERS. She started all 20 games this season, ranking third on the team in scoring and leading the squad in rebounding, averaging 8.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

"Having coached for 27 years at the U SPORTS level, I have worked with and observed many athletes overcome adversity. I haven't seen one with the courage and resilience of Kristen," said CAPERS head coach Fabian McKenzie.

"The mental and physical toll of one season-ending injury is enough to push an athlete away from their sport. Kristen has endured three in a row and hasn't lost her passion for the game. I admire her resilience to push through and come back to lead our young team this year. She has been a key piece for us on the court and one of the best leaders I've had the pleasure of coaching."

Taylor's selection marks just the second time a Cape Breton student-athlete has earned the AUS honour and the first since 2000-01, when CAPERS standout Kim Reynolds was recognized.

The most recent Atlantic conference recipient of the U SPORTS Tracy MacLeod Award was former Acadia player Lanae Adams who earned the national honour in 2018-19.

COACH OF THE YEAR (Dr. Carolyn Savoy Award): Erin McAleenan, UNB REDS  

In her third season as head coach of the UNB REDS, Erin McAleenan has been chosen by her peers as the recipient of the Dr. Carolyn Savoy Memorial Award for AUS coach of the year.

McAleenan's U SPORTS no. 6-ranked UNB squad finished the 2025-26 season atop the conference standings with an 18-2 record and earned a bye through to the championship semifinals.

UNB led the AUS in several key statistical categories this season. The REDS ranked first in scoring at 77.7 points per game while allowing a conference-low 56.4 points against. They also held opponents to 30.4 per cent shooting from the field — the top defensive mark in the league.

The REDS finished first in total rebounds (46.3 per game) and rebound margin (+15.2), reflecting consistent control of the glass on both ends of the court. Offensively, UNB led the conference in field goal percentage (41.8), three-point percentage (31.4) and assists (19.0 per game), and posted the top offensive and net efficiency ratings in the AUS.

They head into this weekend's championship as the top seed.

McAleenan now becomes the Atlantic conference nominee for the U SPORTS coach of the year award. The most recent AUS coach to win the national award was Saint Mary's Scott Munro. He took home the honour in 2012-13. 

2025-26 FIRST AND SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS AND ALL-ROOKIE TEAM

First Team All Stars:
Samantha Russell, Acadia (5^th year – Dartmouth, N.S.)
Katie Butts, UNB (5^th year – Ottawa, Ont.)
Grace Lancaster, UPEI (5^th year – Fall River, N.S.)
Shannon Neita, STFX (3^rd year – Toronto, Ont.)
Bianca Helmig, Acadia (4^th year – Speyer, Germany)

Second Team All Stars:
Angong Jacob, Saint Mary's (4th year – Calgary, Alta.)
Kylee Speedy, UNB (4^th year – Fredericton, N.B)
Madelyn White, Dalhousie (5^th year – Bolton, Ont.)
Sarah Delorey, Acadia (5^th year – Elmsdale, N.S.)
Devon Lawlor, UPEI (5^th year – Millcove, P.E.I.)

All Rookie Team:
Cairo Henning, Dalhousie (Montreal, Que.)
Ingrid Khuong, UPEI (Quebec, Que.)
Mikaela James, STFX (Toronto, Ont.)
Ava MacNutt, STFX (Halifax, N.S.)
Kalli Georgoulias, Saint Mary's (Mississauga, Ont.)

The 2026 Bell AUS Basketball Championships, presented by Gatorade, will be hosted by the AUS conference at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, N.S., Feb. 20 to 22. Each doubleheader will feature one women's game and one men's game. 

The championship schedule is as follows: (seeding in brackets)

Friday, Feb. 20

Doubleheader 1

• Women's Quarterfinal #1: Saint Mary's (5^th) vs. STFX (4^th), 1 p.m.
• Men's Quarterfinal #1: UPEI (5^th) vs. Cape Breton (4^th), 3 p.m.

Doubleheader 2

• Women's Quarterfinal #2: Memorial (6^th) vs. UPEI (3^rd), 6:30 p.m.
• Men's Quarterfinal #2: Memorial (6^th) vs. Acadia (3^rd), 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 21

 Doubleheader 3

• Women's Semifinal #1: Winner of QF1 vs. UNB (1^st), 1 p.m.
• Men's Semifinal #1: Winner of QF1 vs. STFX (1^st), 3 p.m.

Doubleheader 4

• Women's Semifinal #2: Winner of QF2 vs. Acadia (2^nd), 6:30 p.m.
• Men's Semifinal #2: Winner of QF2 vs. UNB (2^nd), 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 22

 Doubleheader 5

• Women's Championship Game: Winner of SF1 vs. Winner of SF2, 1 p.m.
• Men's Championship Game: Winner of SF1 vs. Winner of SF2, 4 p.m.

Final AUS women's standings here.
Final AUS men's standings here.

All games of the championship will be streamed live on AUStv.

For more information on the 2026 Bell AUS Basketball Championships, visit the event website at: www.AUSHoops.ca. Single session tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster here.

The 2026 Sun Life U SPORTS Women's Basketball Final 8 Championship is being hosted March 5 to 8 by Université Laval in Quebec City, Que.
The 2026 U SPORTS Men's Basketball Final 8 Championship is being hosted by the University of Calgary March 6 to 8.

The Atlantic conference is guaranteed only one berth in each championship, which will be awarded to the AUS champions.