UPEI Women’s Basketball Panthers recruit former ACAA Player of the Year Abby Miller
The UPEI Women’s Basketball Panthers have recruited Abby Miller, a former Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) Female Basketball Player of the Year, to the team for the 2024–25 season.
An accomplished player who received many accolades in her time as a Mount Allison University Mountie from 2018 to 2023, Miller was named the ACAA Female Basketball Player of the Year in her final year at Mount Allison, and a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) All-Canadian. She is also a two-time ACAA First-Team All-Conference recipient who played in championship games and brings a winning mentality to the team.
The 23-year-old from Mount Denson, Nova Scotia, who is enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts program at UPEI, has been looking forward to getting back on the court playing the sport she loves ever since her illustrious career at Mount Allison ended in 2023.
“I took a year off after graduating and was just working full-time on the Island,” she said. “It was really tough transitioning out of playing at the university level.”
Recently, Miller started playing again with the Miramichi Her-icanes of the Maritime Women’s Basketball Association and realized how much she missed competing.
“I love to play basketball, and I had people tell me as I was leaving Mount A that I should use my last year of eligibility so I wouldn’t have any regrets.”
They were right. She did have regrets. But when an opportunity came up with the UPEI Panthers, it was her chance to make up for it.
“I had a very successful career at Mount A and the ACAA level, so as a competitor, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to test my skills and compete at the U SPORTS level.”
Her decision to forego her final year of eligibility with Mount Allison may have been a blessing in disguise for the UPEI Panthers, who needed to address the forward position in the offseason. Backed by an impressive basketball resumé, Miller should have an edge at the vacant spot once training camp begins later this year.
“I hope to take on a leadership role with the team this season. Even as a new player to the program, I bring a lot of experience that I’m excited to share.”
Head coach Matt Gamblin didn’t get a chance to coach Miller while he was at Mount Allison, but he’s excited to get his opportunity now.
"We’re excited to have Abby join the green and white this season,” he said. “She brings a level of toughness and competitiveness to the court that you cannot teach. She had a great career at Mount A, and her rebounding and defensive intensity will certainly translate at this level.”
Miller describes herself as a defence-first player who brings a physicality to the low post. She’s also a proven scorer who averaged 11.2 points on 44.8 per cent shooting, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in four seasons with the Mounties.
“Coming into the AUS as a 5-foot-11 forward, I’m a bit undersized for my position, but I play big, and I hope to use my strength and speed to my advantage as an interior player, especially as a rebounder,” she said. “I play with a lot of grit and hustle on both ends of the court, which I hope to bring to UPEI.”
