KINGSTON, Ont. (May 25, 2022) – Sophie de Goede capped her incredible season with the Queen's Gaels by being named a winner of the 2022 Lois and Doug Mitchell U SPORTS Athletes of the Year Awards.

Formerly known as the Borden Ladner Gervais (BLG) and Howard Mackie Awards, the Lois and Doug Mitchell U SPORTS Athletes of the Year Awards recognize Canada's top athletes competing in university athletics in U SPORTS.

Waterloo Warriors quarterback Tre Ford was named the other winner of the Lois and Doug Mitchell U SPORTS Athletes of the Year Awards.

"This year's group of nominees is one of our strongest yet," said Lois Mitchell. "The student-athletes who compete in U SPORTS develop integrity, resilience, teamwork and the communications skills they need to excel in sport, their studies and in their careers. Congratulations to Tre and Sophie and to all the nominees who inspire us every day."



de Goede, who was also named the OUA Female Athlete of the Year and the PHE '55 Alumnae Award winner as Queen's Varsity Teams Female Athlete of the Year, starred for both the Gaels' Women's Rugby and Women's Basketball teams this past season, helping both teams earn national medals on home venues at U SPORTS National Championships.

"On behalf of our entire membership, congratulations to both Tre and Sophie on being named the 2022 U SPORTS Athletes of the Year," said U SPORTS interim CEO Dick White. "We are proud of your extensive accomplishments on the field of play and in the classroom. We look forward to watching you become leaders both in the community and in the next stage of your athletic and professional careers."

In the fall, de Goede was named the U SPORTS Women's Rugby Player of the Year and tournament MVP at the U SPORTS Women's Rugby Championship after helping lead Queen's to their first ever Women's Rugby Championship.

de Goede, who was also named the OUA Player of the Year in Women's Rugby for the third straight season last week, finished the 2021 season with 52 points, bringing her career total at Queen's up to 208 points, just 11 points behind Lauren McEwen, who is first all-time in points at 219. It was de Goede's second-highest scoring season with the Gaels, behind only her 2019 season when she scored 76 points.

"Sophie de Goede is a generational player and a generational person," said Women's Rugby Head Coach Dan Valley. "Despite the accolades that Sophie has earned over her time at Queen's, she remains the hardest working athlete on campus - always looking for ways to excel and improve, either on the pitch, on the court, or in the classroom."



In the winter, de Goede was named a Second Team OUA East Division All-Star, earning an OUA All-Star nod in her second sport, after leading the OUA in rebounding, averaging 12.1 per game while adding 9.8 points per game. She also averaged 2.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game for the Gaels this season.

de Goede helped the Gaels Women's Basketball team win the Bronze Medal at the U SPORTS Women's Final 8 Basketball Championship at the ARC, just months after hoisting the Monilex Trophy as Women's Rugby champions on Nixon Field.