UNB Saint John Athletics
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Ella De Paz has officially signed with the UNB Saint John Seawolves women’s basketball team for the 2023-24 varsity season.

Ella comes to us from Oakville, Ontario, where she graduated with honors from St. Ignatius of Loyola Secondary School. De Paz has been the varsity basketball team captain at St. Ignatius of Loyola for the past two years, winning MVP and leading the team to the HCAA championship and multiple tournament wins in her final year.

When De Paz first tried basketball, she saw it as a way to stay active and have fun. Quickly though, Ella developed a passion for all aspects of the sport. “As I continued to play basketball, I started to love it for different reasons,” said the recruit. “I am motivated by the environment and the family that basketball provides. It is encouraging and supportive, and I look forward to showing up and pushing myself to compete against my teammates. My competitive drive pushes me to be better.”

Seawolves head coach Kevin Munroe discovered Ella through a coaching contact in Ontario, who had been helping Munroe look for potential fits for the Seawolves. After Munroe watched some of Ella’s games online, she came to UNB Saint John for a weekend camp where her strong work ethic, physicality, and willingness to do the little things on the court stood out to the coaches.

De Paz chose UNB Saint John because of her desire for an environment where she could grow and thrive as a player and student. “When I took a visit to the UNBSJ campus and practiced with the team I knew that's the place I wanted to be for the next few years,” said Ella. “The coach and players both pushed me to compete and put in 100% effort, which I think will help me grow as a player the most. The team was extremely positive and supportive, important traits I wanted to have that got me into loving the sport when I first started.”

Off the court, Ella will be pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with the goal of one day providing a positive and safe environment to others in need, especially those without a support system. As for a specific career, De Paz says “I think there are many options and routes for me to take into a career and I am optimistic about where my program will take me.”

Ella cites her mother as her biggest role model, saying “From a young age, she instilled in me the belief that I could achieve anything I set my mind to and that there were no limits to what I could become.”

This belief has led Ella to success in many aspects of life and will continue to motivate her in the fall. De Paz’s athletic goals for the season include making better reads, making quicker decisions, and improving her offense overall. She also hopes to condition herself mentally and physically, while working towards the collective goal of winning a championship with the team.

Coach Munroe is excited to be getting a gritty and determined player like Ella. “Her desire to improve on and off the court fits in perfectly with our team goals of academic and athletic excellence. I’m expecting Ella to give us some toughness in and around the basket on both ends of the court. She will be an excellent piece to our team and her work ethic will be welcomed in practice and during games.”

Welcome to the Seawolves family, Ella!