Fraser Valley, Prince George perfect in Division 2 in Edmonton
Photo courtesy Rob Hislop.
(EDMONTON, Alta.) – The Alberta Northern Lights and Variety Village remain unbeaten in Division 1 after an impressive opening day at the 2026 CWBL Finals in Edmonton.
Alberta set the tone Friday afternoon with a hard-fought 58–51 victory over the Twin City Spinners. The Northern Lights followed it up with a commanding 73–57 win over Centre d’intégration à la vie active in the Hall of Fame Game, a rematch of the 2025 gold medal showdown honouring the 1980s Alberta Northern Lights.
“I think it’s really big for us that we’re such a team that’s so close together that even when we do get down, we’re able to pick it back up and we’re able to continue going with the group that we know,” said Ceilidh Nordell.
“It definitely comes with challenges, not knowing really what the teams on the East Coast are like.”
The 1980s Alberta Northern Lights team, entering the Wheelchair Basketball Canada Hall of Fame, was formally honoured during a halftime ceremony of the Feature Game between ANL and CIVA.
Founded in the 1980s, the Alberta Northern Lights quickly rose to become one of the most recognized wheelchair basketball programs in the world, consistently ranking among North America’s top teams and helping establish major competitions such as the Challenge Cup.
The Northern Lights athletes were instrumental in Alberta’s multiple national championship-winning teams. They played a key role in developing community outreach initiatives, junior camps, and city leagues that continue to grow the sport today.
Variety Village opened Day 1 in dominant fashion, posting a perfect 2–0 record. The Rolling Rebels set the tone early with a 70–49 win over the Calgary Rollers in Friday morning’s Division 1 opener, before Variety Village capped the day with an impressive 80–56 victory over the Gladiateurs de Laval.
“The big thing that was working for us on Day 1, at least, was adjustments on the fly,” said Dani Bigu. “I think what’s been good for us is we’ve had pretty much two to three months practicing every Monday and Wednesday together, so the team chemistry is built up.
“We were able to get a bye; we only have to play one game tomorrow, so we can actually get some good rest, and we have a target on our back now, so it gives us a little bit more fuel.”
Fraser Valley and Prince George remain unbeaten in Division 2 play. Fraser Valley opened Friday with a 66–58 win over Club 99 before cruising past the Edmonton Inferno 76–43. The Prince George Lumberjacks followed suit, defeating Team New Brunswick 65–38 and then dispatching the Calgary Rollers 49–18 to keep their perfect record intact.
In Division 3—making its debut at the 2026 CWBL Finals—the Kamloops Bulldawgs, Ottawa Royals, and Lethbridge Steamers are all tied at 2–1 after Friday’s action. The division features an open-points format designed to expand access to national-level competition.
The action at the 2026 CWBL Finals from the Saville Community Sports Centre resumes on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. MDT with the Division 1 and Division 2 quarterfinals.
Full schedule and results from the 2026 CWBL Finals can be found here.
About the Canadian Wheelchair Basketball League Finals
The 2026 CWBL Finals is a premier national celebration of wheelchair basketball in Canada, uniting athletes, coaches, and officials from coast to coast. The event brings the community together on one stage, fostering connection, competition, and pride in the sport’s growth. With opportunities for athletes at every stage, the CWBL Finals continues to expand access, including the introduction of Division 3 competition in 2026. Through collaboration with clubs, WBC is also enhancing inclusion and participation, reinforcing its commitment to athlete development and the future of the game.