McKinnon Cougars Claim Big V 2026 Championship Women Crown

The McKinnon Cougars are the Big V 2026 Championship Women winners after defeating the Sherbrooke Suns 113–61 in Saturday’s Grand Final at the State Basketball Centre.

The victory completed an outstanding campaign for McKinnon, which finished on top of the ladder with a 20–2 regular-season record.

Sherbrooke was responsible for McKinnon’s only 2 losses of the season, but the Cougars had defeated the Suns in their most recent meeting late in the regular season before producing an even more convincing result on the biggest stage.

McKinnon won all 4 quarters, led by 23 points at half-time and continued to extend the margin throughout the second half to secure the championship.

Javyn Nicholson made an immediate impact, scoring McKinnon’s opening 7 points.

The opening stages remained competitive, with the scores tied at 10 before the Cougars began to create separation through their defensive pressure and work at the offensive end.

McKinnon closed the opening period strongly to establish a 26–17 quarter-time lead before taking complete control during the second quarter.

The Cougars stretched the Sherbrooke defence with their ball movement and created opportunities both inside and around the perimeter.

With contributions coming from across the roster, McKinnon scored 34 points during the second quarter and took a commanding 60–37 lead into half-time.

There was no let-up after the main break.

The Cougars scored the opening 10 points of the third quarter to push the margin beyond 30 and remove any hope of a Sherbrooke comeback.

McKinnon continued to share the scoring and maintained its pressure at both ends of the floor, closing the third quarter with an 85–54 advantage.

With the championship within reach, the Cougars maintained their intensity throughout the final 10 minutes.

Nicholson connected on consecutive three-pointers during the fourth quarter, with the second bringing up 100 points for McKinnon.

The Cougars continued to extend their advantage during the closing stages, holding Sherbrooke to just 7 points in the final quarter.

Romy Price scored the final basket of the game to complete McKinnon’s 113–61 victory and begin the championship celebrations.

The result was built on a complete team performance, with every McKinnon player scoring.

Maighan Hedge finished with 19 points and 8 assists, while Kayce Vaile added 14 points and 6 rebounds.

Amy Baum directed the offence with 10 assists to go with 8 points. Jennie Rintala collected 9 points and 8 rebounds, Sarae Beveridge and Mia Kellock each scored 8, and Price added 7 points and 8 rebounds.

Eloise Leonard contributed 6 points, 2 steals and 2 blocks, while Annabel Fitter added 3 points and 6 rebounds.

McKinnon shot 50.6 per cent from the field, made 16 three-pointers and recorded 27 assists. The Cougars also won the rebound count 56–41 and forced Sherbrooke into 25 turnovers.

Nicholson was awarded the Grand Final MVP following a standout performance on the championship stage.

She finished with 31 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 12-of-20 from the field and making 5 three-pointers.

Nicholson set the tone with McKinnon’s opening 7 points and remained a major influence throughout the contest, producing the defining individual performance of the Grand Final.

The championship was a fitting conclusion to a season in which the Cougars established themselves as the competition’s leading team.

After finishing on top of the ladder, McKinnon carried its form through the finals and delivered its biggest performance of the year when the title was on the line.

Led by head coach Mason Rogers, assistant coaches Teagan Barry, Thomas Pitts and Ellen Parry, and team managers Lauren Trute, James Sulivan and Mackenzie O’Brien, the Cougars secured a 52-point victory and the Big V 2026 Championship Women crown.