KINGSTON, Ont. (March 5, 2025) – Queen's Women's Basketball standout Brooke Hussey earned the OUA Rookie of the Year honours and All-Rookie Team selections. 

Teammate Ally Smith was recognized with the Tracy McLeod Award, which honours perseverance, determination, and unwavering dedication to the game.

Hussey (Kinesiology) capped off an exceptional debut season, emerging as one of the top players in the conference. The first-year point guard led all OUA rookies with 53 assists, while averaging 11.3 points per game and collecting 106 total rebounds. 

"Brooke had quite an impactful first season in our program, making significant contributions on both ends of the floor," said Queen's Head Coach Claire Meadows. "Defensively, Brooke is an absolute pest. Over the course of the season, Brooke became a lockdown defender and led our team in steals. Brooke is a most deserving recipient of the OUA Rookie of the Year award."

Smith (Kinesiology), a key leader for the Gaels, demonstrated remarkable resilience and commitment to the game of basketball. Despite enduring immense personal loss, grief, and untimely injuries, Smith channeled adversity into strength, continuing to make meaningful contributions both on and off the court.

The third-year guard played a crucial role in Queen's program, appearing in 18 games while recording 116 points, 41 assists, and 44 rebounds. Beyond individual performance, Smith used personal challenges as motivation to inspire change and raise awareness for mental health.

A strong advocate for mental health initiatives, Smith led fundraising efforts in support of First Responders Mental Health, working closely with Badge of Life Canada—a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering Canadian public safety personnel in achieving healthy living and post-traumatic growth.

"Ally is most deserving of the Tracy McLeod Award," said Meadows. "Despite overwhelming challenges, Ally remained committed to an athletic and academic journey while making a significant impact on our team's success—a true testament to incredible strength and resilience."