The Winnipeg Wesmen women’s basketball program has announced the commitment of 6-foot-1 Vincent Massey Collegiate standout Emma Yard, marking the second addition to head coach Alyssa Cox’s 2026 recruiting class.
Yard’s early years in the sport were defined by her height, which often placed her firmly in the post. Rather than accept a single role, she expanded her game and transformed herself into a positionless player capable of contributing in multiple areas on the floor. That evolution is now paying off at the next level.
A multisport athlete who also competes in team handball, Yard has developed through several high-performance pathways, including the Attack Basketball club system and Basketball Manitoba’s Targeted Athlete Program (TAP). Her growth at Vincent Massey culminated in a 2024-25 AAAA provincial championship, where she shared the court with current Wesmen guard Jennifer Edwards.
That championship run was the turning point in her belief that university basketball was within reach.
“I’d been talking to Alyssa a bit before that, but I didn’t really feel like I was kind of at that level,” Yard said. “Provincial final, against Dakota and we ended up winning, it was kind of like I’d gone against the hardest competition in the city and I’d been able to make opportunities for myself. Being on the big stage and feeling what it feels like to have all those people watching… I was like, ‘Yeah, this is what I want to do. I don’t want this to stop after high school.’”
As she continued to grow as a player, coaches initially steered her toward playing exclusively around the basket. Her time with Attack changed that trajectory.
“(TAP) was really great for my development,” she said. “And after that I decided to play for my current club, Attack, and they’ve really helped me with my skill development. Being as tall as I am, I’ve kind of always just been in the post, but they’ve really helped me develop ball handling skills and everything like that. So, I played with them the past three years and it’s been really great.”
Now, Yard embraces the versatility she has worked to develop.
“Depending on the team, depending on what they need, I can handle the ball. I play on the wing. One of the great things Alyssa said is not only just like screening and rolling, but I can also screen and pop. Like shooting threes is something I’ve recently added. Just kind of being able to play every position.”
Cox sees those attributes as a perfect fit for the Wesmen system.
“Emma is an immediate standout because of her size, length, and athletic ability,” Cox said. “Her versatility on the offensive end will give us exciting new options in how we play and make her a difficult matchup for our opponents. She has a wealth of experience playing at a high level and we are looking forward to helping her continue to grow her game as a Wesmen.”
Yard joins Daniel McIntyre Collegiate’s Ava Shaw as the first two commitments in the Wesmen’s 2026 recruiting class.
2025 Manitoba Provincial Team Profile
Uni #
9
Team
17U Female
Roster Type
Roster Player
Position
Forward
First Name
Emma
Last Name
Yard
Age
16
City/Town
Winnipeg
Present Grade
Grade 11
Years in Basketball
7 years
School Attending This Fall
Vincent Massey Collegiate
Basketball Club Name
Attack Academy
Summer Goals
Improve my inside game
Basketball Aspirations
Playing university basketball
Fondest Memory in Basketball
Winning the AAAA provincial final
Biggest Basketball Influence
My Dad
Favourite Player & Team
A'ja Wilson and the Lakers
After High School
Receiving a university education
When Basketball Career is Over
Finish my education and start a career