It might not have registered for a lot of sports fans, but when the Saskatchewan Rattlers announced that Paige Crozon would be part of the team’s coaching staff it was something of a benchmark for women’s sports in the province.
While the list of professional sports teams in Saskatchewan is short, with only three, and two of those relative newcomers, Crozon still becomes the first female coach on a pro team in the province.
The position might not seem massively important in terms of history, but in terms of women taking a bigger role in professional sports it is certainly a step in Saskatchewan.
Certainly Crozon is thrilled to be a Rattler.
“I’m very excited for the opportunity,” she said in a recent telephone chat.
So who is Crozon?
Well a Rattler release noted she is currently the Assistant Coach for the University of Lethbridge Women’s Basketball Team and the Manager of the Living Skies Indigenous Basketball League, Saskatchewan’s first-ever province-wide Indigenous Basketball League (more on that in a bit).
Crozon, a Humboldt, SK-native played professionally in Europe in the Premier German League, and with the Canadian National Team for nine years.
With Team Canada, she played in three World Championships, the Pan American Games, Commonwealth Games, FISU World Games, and other events. Crozon is still a member of Team Canada 3x3 and is currently ranked #7 in the world for women’s 3x3 players. Most recently, Team Canada 3x3 played in the 2019 Women’s Series where they finished second overall, and won four international tournaments.
Crozon left Saskatchewan to play basketball for the University of Utah on full scholarship, in the NCAA PAC-12 Conference. There, she earned degrees in both Bachelor of Science in Management and Bachelor of Science in Health Education and Promotion. While playing for the University of Utah, Crozon scored over 1000 career points and earned All-Conference and All-Conference Academic honours.
Given her rather stellar basketball resume it’s no surprise Crozon wanted to remain in the game post her playing days.
“It’s been my passion since I was a young child,” she said, adding the move into coaching was a natural because she has long held coaches in high esteem. “... I feel they’ve (her coaches through the years) have really shaped me to be the person I am today.”
So does Crozon see the women’s game taking a step to pro level in Canada one day, a counterpart to the CEBL perhaps?
“That’s a very interesting thought,” she said, but added the most logical step would be a Canadian team, likely in Toronto, in the WNBA.
Crozon said the women’s game is strong at the amateur level in Canada, with the national team ranked fourth in the world, and qualified for the nest Summer Olympics, so a WNBA franchise would seem a natural. She added there are efforts to make that happen taking place too.
For Crozon everything is about growing the sport, and the Indigenous Basketball League is another way she is doing that.
The Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan, One Love Basketball Inc., with support from the Government of Canada, and other community stakeholders recently announced the launch of the Living Skies Indigenous Basketball League (LSIBL). LSIBL is open for registration for the inaugural season of the first ever, provincial-wide basketball league for Indigenous youth, in Saskatchewan. There will be girls & boys teams in two age groups, Junior (11-14) and Senior (15-17). The league will plan to run fall 2021, registration is now open to secure a spot! To kickstart the league LSIBL is offering spring camps in May and June 2021.
“The coordinators and staff of the Living Skies Indigenous Basketball League are excited for the official launch. We have big aspirations for the league and are looking forward to providing more opportunities for the youth across Saskatchewan,” said Crozon in a release wearing her hat as LSIBL manager.
Crozon says the initiative will open doors and when you couple that with a recognition players can aspire to be Rattlers one day, the combination should be powerful.
“I think it’s very important to have something tangible (the Rattlers) to look up too ... something for them to set their sights on,” she said.
As for her role on the Rattlers she said she will “focus on individual skill development,” helping players gain skills and become better players.
Of course there will be a trust building element as Crozon will work with male players in her new role.
“I hope they see me as a basketball coach, not just a woman,” she said, then added she hopes her passion for the game and team with help build a quick rapport with players.
