Vanessa Nobrega is a proud alumna of the University of Toronto, who devoted much of her time to excelling in her field of study, but also in varsity athletics. During her time as an undergraduate student, Nobrega played for the Varsity Blues women’s basketball team from 2000–2005 in various positions, including point-guard and shooting-guard.
During these five years, Nobrega also developed as a player, keeping in mind her goal of travelling to Europe to play basketball professionally. She served as the team’s captain in her final three seasons, and during her five-year commitment to the team, she used her leadership role to contribute to the continued outstanding success of the team.
In 2002, the Blues celebrated winning the provincial championship. Nobrega was an Ontario University Athletics (OUA) all-star in her last two seasons, and is also a U of T T-Holder recipient.
Nobrega was familiar with many of the players on the team before deciding to join in her first year. She remembers feeling special to have the privilege to play alongside these women, while learning from who she deemed as the best head coach, Michele Bélanger.
Bélanger is currently in her thirty-sixth season coaching the Varsity Blues’ women’s team. Nobrega says that she came to U of T especially for Bélanger, who she still views today as “an amazing person and coach.” She adds, “I wanted to develop as a basketball player under her leadership.”
Aside from the promise of being given the opportunity to learn from Bélanger, Nobrega notes that “the fact that U of T is such a reputable school made my decision easy.”
When asked about some of her most memorable moments with the Blues, Nobrega says, “In my second year, we won OUAs. At the time, our league was tough and we had a number of players in their final year who wanted to finish their careers winning. The playoffs were at home and the atmosphere was awesome. That was a pretty special time.”
Nobrega graduated from U of T in 2004, but continued on to play a fifth year in the season from 2004–2005. She was a graduate of U of T’s Rotman Commerce, and upon graduation, went on to fulfill her dream of playing basketball professionally in Germany. Upon her return to Canada, Nobrega went to school for chiropractic medicine and has been practising in Toronto since having attained her diploma in 2011.
Regarding her personal life in the years since her Varsity Blues days, Nobrega and her husband have started a few companies since the end of their respective athletic careers. Her husband, Mark, played professional beach and indoor volleyball.
“We have a juice bar in Muskoka that is in its eighth year and we are about to launch a number game for kids, called Möbi,” says Nobrega.
Last November, Nobrega and her husband welcomed their son, Noah, into the world. She added, “He’s packed with love and has changed our world so quickly and in ways we couldn’t have imagined.”
Like many past Blues athletes, Nobrega reminisces about her experiences as a member of the Varsity Blues, noting, “I loved playing at U of T. I only have fond memories there. Of course there were difficulties at times, but those come with any endeavour that is worth pursuing.”
