Thank you, Dinos Women's Basketball

After hopping on a Zoom call, with each of us in a different time zone, we have had a chance to reflect on what our experience playing basketball in Calgary has meant to us.

With Clara coming from Spain, our Latvians (Laura and Liene), and Katie moving across the country from Nova Scotia to play for the Dinos, none of us knew what this journey would entail. Although each of us come from different backgrounds, our common love for basketball has brought us together in Calgary and made us family. We may come from all over the world and we may have all been with this program for different amounts of time, but the one thing we can all agree on is that time flies when you’re having fun.

To us, playing for the Dinos means being a part of a culture that is incomparable to any other team in the country. Teammates quickly became family, and the love we have for the relationships we have built here are second to none.

We have been surrounded by so many great people who were always there to help with basketball, school, and life. Our coaches kept it real on the basketball court, the weight room, and in the film sessions, but were also always there for a good conversation and wise words.

Playing for the Dinos also means we had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. Having coaches from the UK, Turkey, the US, and Australia, while also having British, Latvian and Spanish teammates over the past few years has been such an amazing experience for us all (except for the occasional accent/language barrier and when we have no idea what Fatih is saying). In all seriousness, it has been so cool to meet so many people over the years – exchanging traditions, stories, life experiences, and even playing styles.

Playing basketball for this team has been incredible and there are countless aspects of it that we will miss. Those early morning practices where we knew we left the gym a little bit better than when we came in, those extra long film sessions learning about the tactics of the game, the weekends on the road where we got to know our teammates on a deeper level, and those talks with a coach that made us realize our strengths and our weaknesses. 

Every game we got to play for the Dinos as well as all the time spent in hotels, airports, planes, buses, and rental cars… all the pre-game meals, the post-game meetings, and the numerous team traditions, inside jokes, and superstitions all represent the countless memories we have with our coaches and teammates that we will certainly miss but also cherish for the rest of our lives. Believe it or not, we might even miss those 6 a.m. practices and coaching camps all day during Stampede.

The four of us have been fortunate enough to have support from so many great people. The commitment, dedication and persistent work and effort put forth by our coaching staff are second to none. To Damo and all our coaches over the years, thank you for not only improving us as basketball players but also as leaders and people.

The European Squad wants to say a big thank you for welcoming us to Calgary with open arms. We had all heard before that Canadians are nice, but now we can actually say – it is a fact! We want to give a huge shout-out to Matt Spencer for the warmest welcome, constant support, and all the lunch and coffee breaks. We could not have asked for better teammates and coaches, who always tried to understand our English, even in times when it maybe (definitely) did not make the most sense. Canada is such a beautiful country that has offered us countless breathtaking views. We will not forget the people, the places, and the program that gave us a sense of belonging.

We are so grateful for this unforgettable experience while being so far away from home. We need to shout out our families for waking up in the middle of the night to watch our games. The Dinos now have a huge fan base in Spain and Latvia! One day when the European Squad is back together, it will go like: “remember this and this and this..” and we already cannot wait for that reunion.

Okay, just Katie here. I would like to especially thank my parents, who have sacrificed so much for me throughout my life so I could pursue basketball. None of this is possible without their constant love and support. I would also like to thank every single coach and teammate I have had over the last five years. You have given me some of the best times and greatest memories of my life, and I am truly blessed to have met all of you. Thank you all for being there for me each step of the way.

Last but not least, shoutout to Reyna Crawford and Bobbi-Jo Colburn, who came into the program with me as a freshman in 2016. Bob, Rey, I will be forever grateful to this program for bringing both of you into my life, and it has been a pleasure to watch you grow over the last five years into the incredible women you are today. We could write a book (I am sure we will someday) about all the experiences we have shared, and with that being said, there are no other people I would have chosen to be by my side through it all. You two are the definition of great teammates, roommates, and friends. Thank you.

There were some big wins, some bad losses, some tough practices and countless character-building experiences that have shaped us into the people we are today. 

As all of our lives continue and we move on from the University of Calgary, we will never forget what we have been taught both on and off the court. 

We will always remember the principles and effort it took to learn discipline, self-sacrifice, and perseverance. We will always remember the “little things” it takes to be successful, and we will take this into our everyday life after basketball.

And most importantly, we will never forget the people with whom we went through this experience together with and the friendships that will last a lifetime.

Once a Dino, always a Dino!

- Clara, Laura, Liene, and Katie

Dinos Women's Basketball Graduating Athletes: Laura Grabe, Liene Stalidzane, Clara Tapia Palacio, Katie Upham