Born and raised in Balls Creek, Cape Breton, Theresa MacCuish’s remarkable basketball career began from a young age. In Grade 7, Theresa made the pivotal decision to try out for the school basketball team, igniting a lifelong passion for the sport that would take her far beyond her Cape Breton roots.
Theresa in action for StFX (Photo from Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame)
After honing her talent and dedication, Theresa went on to become a member of St. Francis Xavier University’s Women’s Basketball Team in 1991. During her five-year AUAA (AUS) and CIAU (USports) career, she distinguished herself as a standout shooting guard (2) and small forward (3). Her countless accolades include being named AUAA and CIAU rookie of the Year and earning AUAA Most Valuable Player. Additionally, she was named AUAA First Team All-Star for all five seasons and won StFX Female Athlete of the Year four times. Perhaps most notably, she held the record as the all-time leading scorer in CIAU history, amassing an incredible record of over 2,000 points during her time with the X-Women. To cap it all off, she supported the X-Women in securing their first ever AUS title during the 1996-1997.
Despite her achievements, Theresa expresses a deep gratitude for those around her, acknowledging that she was “lucky to have fantastic coaches and teammates,” while possessing a genuine love for her sport. This mindset, combined with likeminded teammates and coaches, allowed her to bounce back from losses and challenges with the following reminder: “There’s always another game.”
As the end of her university career grew near, Theresa turned to look towards her next target. In her fifth year, Coach Doc Ryan encouraged her to consider pursuing professional playing opportunities. After putting a resume together and sending it to various teams, Theresa earned a contract with the London Amazons in the United Kingdom’s National Basketball League. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and a Bachelor of Education, she crossed the pond to pursue a new challenge. During this exciting period, Theresa thoroughly enjoyed her time with her teammates, sharing that she was inspired by the women playing alongside her, many of whom had families to care for beyond the court.
Theresa and Bill Kiely (Photo from Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame)
Once she returned to Canada, Theresa and her husband, Trevor Reddick, settled in Antigonish and began their family. In 2006, Theresa was inducted into the StFX Athletics Hall of Fame. This was followed by induction into the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame in 2014. Since her retirement from professional basketball, Theresa added “Coach” to her impressive resume, supporting local girls’ basketball and coaching her daughters. As a coach, Theresa continues to carry the lessons she learned in her playing days and strives to go beyond skill development, nurturing her athletes as they grow a sense of dedication and joy for the sport.
Submitted by Alyssa Spridgeon, March 28, 2024