RSEQ standout Madina Cisse commits to Axewomen basketball

The Acadia Axewomen basketball program has added size, athleticism and defensive presence with the commitment of Madina Cisse for the upcoming Atlantic University Sport season.

Cisse, a six-foot-two forward from Bamako, Mali, joins the Axewomen after a dominant collegiate career with the Géants of Cégep de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. She plans to study sociology at Acadia.

Cisse established herself as one of the top players in the RSEQ, helping lead the Géants to back-to-back provincial championships in 2024-25 and 2025-26. The team also finished third at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) national championships in both seasons.

A consistent force on both ends of the floor, Cisse averaged a double-double in each of her two collegiate seasons. She led the RSEQ in rebounds during the 2024-25 season, averaging 10.9 per game, and ranked among the league leaders in blocks and steals. She followed that with another strong season in 2025-26, averaging 10.5 rebounds and 11.2 points per game. She also recorded a season-high 19 rebounds in a game and posted a 25-point performance during the year.

Her defensive impact earned her RSEQ Defensive Player of the Year honours in 2024-25, along with selection to the league’s first all-star team. She followed that with a second-team all-star nod in 2025-26 and a first-team all-star selection at the provincial championship.

Axewomen head coach Len Harvey said Cisse’s defensive ability and continued growth make her an exciting addition to the program.

“We are so excited about Madina joining our team,” said Harvey. “She is a very mobile and very long player who plays exceptionally hard. She has been a dominant defensive force in CEGEP as well as at CCAA nationals, and it seems as though every time I watch her she is adding something else to her game offensively.

“She is a wonderful person with a great attitude and will be a perfect fit with our roster. I think she’s going to be a really special player and will make an immediate impact for our team.”

Cisse said her journey to Acadia has been shaped by persistence and a commitment to growth.

“Committing to Acadia means more than just playing at a higher level,” she said. “It means growing as a woman, a student, and an athlete. I came from Mali and worked hard to get here. I learned that nothing is free, you have to earn everything.

“Acadia is the right place for me to keep improving, on and off the court. I am ready to give everything I have and become the best version of myself.”