Calgary guard Kylie Newman commits to Axewomen basketball

The Acadia Axewomen basketball program has added resilience, leadership and size to its backcourt with the commitment of Calgary native Kylie Newman for the upcoming Atlantic University Sport season.

Newman, a 5'10 guard, joins the Axewomen after spending the 2025-26 season redshirting with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) Trojans while recovering from an ACL and meniscus injury. She will study business administration at Acadia.

Before beginning her collegiate career, Newman enjoyed a successful high school career at Western Canada High School in Calgary. She helped lead the program to a Division 1 Calgary city championship in 2024 and an Alberta 4A provincial silver medal that same season. She later served as team captain during her senior year in 2024-25.

Newman was also a longtime member of the Calgary Basketball Academy, where she developed her game under respected coaches and competed against top talent from across Western Canada. Her teams reached back-to-back Division 1 city finals, compiling a 19-1 league record during that stretch.

Her path to university basketball has not been without challenges. Following high school, Newman suffered an ACL and meniscus injury that required surgery. She spent the 2025-26 season focusing on rehabilitation and her return to the court while maintaining her connection to the SAIT program.

Axewomen head coach Len Harvey said Newman's perseverance throughout that process speaks volumes about the type of student-athlete she is.

“Kylie has shown a lot of grit through her last couple of years,” said Harvey. “She had been someone we were in the midst of the recruiting process and then she tore her ACL in Grade 12 so stayed close to home for her rehab.

“She’s a high-character person who has a relentless work ethic. She’s been coached by fantastic people who all sing her praises. We’re looking forward to getting Kylie on campus and getting to work with her as she continues to build her game.”

Newman said Acadia felt like the right fit from the moment she connected with the program.

“I am really grateful and excited to join the Axewomen basketball program,” she said. “Having family on the East Coast made it important for me to stay connected to the region, and after visiting Wolfville and seeing the campus and atmosphere around the program, I knew it was a place I wanted to be.

“I’m looking forward to this new challenge and growing on and off the court.”

Newman's size, versatility and determination add another promising piece to the Axewomen roster as the program continues to build for the future.