Sports pundits may debate the definition of a dynasty, but if there was ever any doubt about the Similkameen Starbirds, it was put to rest during the 2026 All Native Basketball Tournament women’s final on Feb. 21.
Going into the tournament this year, the Starbirds were three-time champions, and it showed as they cruised through the winner’s bracket undefeated besting Gitwangak, Kitamaat, Bella Coola handily.
Their championship opponent, the Hesquiaht Descendents, on the other hand, had to take the long route to the final after losing to Greenville (Laxgalts’ap) in the second round.
They made no mistakes in the loser’s bracket, though, breezing by Skidegate, earning payback on Greenville, crushing Kitamaat, and bouncing Bella Coola in the semi-final.
Like the women’s masters final, it was a sluggish start, but Smilkameen quickly doubled up on the Descendants and would maintain that pattern throughout.
At the end of the first quarter, it was 10 -7 and by the half it was 25-11. The third quarter ended 41 – 21 and the final was 61 – 29.
The Starbirds’ dominance starts with the one-two punch of cousins Jasmine Montgomery-Reid and Jade Montgomery-Waardenburg, backed up by a trio of Terbaskets, Madison, Nicola, and Reily.
But Similkameen’s true strength is in their depth, with a bench that can sub in almost seamlessly.
This year, it was Jasmine’s turn to hoist the MVP trophy. She and Jade each have two now in the team’s four straight titles.
In the championship game, Jasmine had 17 points to Jade’s 15, with Madison just two behind at 13. Mikkeala Ridsdale had seven.
Similkameen is now the only women’s team to win four-in-a-row and one of only six teams in any division to win four or more straight in all of ANBT history.
Those include the Intermediate NBA Beavers (Prince Rupert) from 1976-1979 (four); the Hydaburg, AK Masters from 2015-2019 (five); the Kitamaat Seniors from 1975-1980 (six); the Senior Skidgate Saints from 2012-2017 (six); and the Hydaburg, AK Seniors from 2001-2007 (seven).