Queen's Women's Basketball's
Bella Gaudet has been named the OUA Women's Basketball's Tracy McLeod Award recipient for the 2025-26 season, the conference announced on Thursday. The Tracy McLeod Award recognizes perseverence, determination, and unwavering dedication to the game.
"Over the past six years,
Bella Gaudet has reshaped how our program views resiliency," said Queen's Women's Basketball Head Coach
Claire Meadows. "Her steady march back to the court has shown our program that resiliency is not a triumphant sprint across a finish line, or in her case, another made 3-pointer, but all the hard days before, stacked, when no one else is watching, again, and again, and again."
Over the past six years, Gaudet has been a key contributor to the Queen's women's basketball program, overcoming early setbacks to become one of the team's leaders on and off the court.
Gaudet's first season was cancelled due to COVID-19, and she was sidelined the following year with an injury, delaying her debut until her third season. When she did take the court, she played in all 35 U SPORTS games, starting 14, and averaged just over 20 minutes per game. She helped Queen's earn OUA and U SPORTS silver medals and was named to the OUA All-Rookie Team.
She continued to play through injury that season and spent the offseason rehabbing before returning the following year. In her fourth season, Gaudet moved into the starting lineup 10 games into the year and helped Queen's secure another OUA silver medal and a fourth-place finish at the U SPORTS Final 8.
Gaudet's fifth season began with strong offensive production. She averaged 16.8 points per game over the first four contests, shooting 50 per cent from three-point range while taking on primary defensive assignments on the perimeter. Her season was cut short by injury, but she returned ahead of schedule in time for the preseason.
This season, Gaudet is averaging a career-high 10.9 points and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 40 per cent from three-point range. She has also resumed a key defensive role for the team.
In addition to her on-court contributions, Gaudet has served as a team captain, helping lead the program during one of its most successful stretches in recent years.
