The Vancouver Island University Mariners women’s basketball team continued outrunning the international attention that recently enveloped the team.
The Mariners (6-1 in conference) flashed their status as the No. 6-ranked Canadian College Athletic Association squad in the country Friday night with a 73-40 PacWest victory over the Camosun Chargers (2-5) at PISE gym as Harriette Mackenzie led the Mariners with 14 points and seven rebounds.
The six-foot-two VIU forward and trans-athlete Mackenzie said she was physically targeted because of her gender during a PacWest home game in Nanaimo against Columbia Bible College two weeks ago. The situation, part of one the most contentious issues of the time in sport, made headlines around the world.
“We have each other’s backs,” said VIU head coach Tony Bryce, who guided the Mariners to the national championship game in 2022 and to the national title in 2023, with Mackenzie part of the latter squad.
“I try to protect all my players.”
Despite repeated requests, Bryce did not make Mackenzie available to the media on Friday and said he would only answer basketball-specific questions.
“Harriette is a big piece of one of our many pieces,” said Bryce.
“She is an inside presence for us, really impactful on rebounds, and has worked really hard on her game.
Mackenzie’s mental stamina almost goes without saying.
“I’m proud of my story. And I want to make something very clear — queer, trans and nonbinary people belong in sport,” the 21-year-old from Comox stated in a video on social media. “And there is zero space in this league for hate, violence and bigotry.”
The PacWest allows transgender athletes to compete if they are in compliance with the Canadian anti-doping program, which restricts testosterone below a certain level.
The men’s game between powerhouse VIU (6-0) and Camosun (5-1) teams was in progress at press time Friday on Chargers Pride Night.
“We want to show support and be a welcoming and comforting environment in which to play sports,” said Stacie Couch, Camosun College athletics and student life marketing officer.
The Camosun and VIU teams play again today at PISE with the women’s game at 1 p.m. and the men’s at 3 p.m.
— With a file from Canadian Press
