Alex Jaglall has solidified her role as a key player for the Varsity Blues women’s basketball team. Standing at 5’11”, she’s a dual threat, combining physicality and finesse in equal measure. Over the 2023–2024 season, Jaglall appeared in 22 regular-season games, averaging 10.7 minutes, 3.2 points, and 2.8 rebounds per game.
Alex’s game is defined by her adaptability. She’s a force in the paint, grabbing crucial rebounds when the team needs them most, and a steady shooter who thrives under pressure. With her ability to elevate those around her, she’s highlighting what it means to be a complete player.
The Varsity interviewed Jaglall on her basketball career so far, navigating the pressures of collegiate sports and life, and the evolving women’s game.
Blues through and through
Basketball wasn’t Jaglall’s first love. Growing up in Pickering, she was a multi-sport athlete, dabbling in swimming, dance, and soccer. “Basketball was the last sport I ended up playing,” Jaglall admitted, laughing. Encouraged by her father — a dedicated Toronto Raptors fan — Jaglall decided to give basketball a shot at age 12. “He was so happy. He made a call, got me into a tryout, and that’s where it all began,” she recalled.
Despite her late start, Jaglall’s athleticism and love for teamwork propelled her forward. Her first basketball team was the Scarborough Blues, a name that now feels prophetic. “I quit all my other sports,” she said. “It became my everything.” By 13, Jaglall was fully immersed in the game, competing with a level of dedication that foreshadowed her future success.
Attending Raptors games and women’s basketball matches with her dad in Toronto, Jaglall developed a connection with the city and the Varsity Blues long before donning their jersey. When it came time to choose a university, the decision felt natural. “I loved the facility… I just loved everything about it, and I loved being in the city,” Jaglall explained.
U of T’s academic rigour was also a huge draw. Specializing in women and gender studies with minoring in sociology and Portuguese, Alex’s academic pursuits reflect her commitment to understanding and addressing systemic inequalities — on and off the court.
Under the guidance of new Blues Head Coach Dianna Ros, Jaglall and her teammates are forging a path marked by growth and ambition. “I think she’s going to have an amazing career here,” Jaglall said of Ros. “I’m excited to see where she takes us… She’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever played for, and I’ve only really known her for three months.”
Beyond the game: Advocacy and mental health
Jalgall is candid about her journey with anxiety. In her first year at U of T, the nerves were so overwhelming she couldn’t even eat before games. But over time, she’s learned to manage it, shifting her focus to what she can control.
For instance, pre-game rituals are integral to Jaglall’s routine, anchoring her mentally and emotionally before every game. “I wake up every day and call my dad,” she explained. “He’s like a ‘basketball dad’, so he’ll always tell me what I need to do.”
She also cherishes her time with her teammates. “Some of my teammates and I go somewhere around [the Goldring Centre of High Performance] to pray,” Jaglall explained. “We talk about things we want to work on, what we need from each other on the court, and how God can guide and carry us through the game.”
Now, she views game days as opportunities for growth, not just as a player but as a person, embracing the challenge rather than shrinking from it.
For Jaglall, basketball is far more than a sport — it’s a source of joy that she turns to each day. “I’ve never gotten to the point where I’m unhappy with basketball,” she said. “I’d never want to quit, especially with the support I have from my parents. I’m not just playing for myself… that’s what keeps me going.”
But the journey hasn’t always been easy. She admitted there were times when balancing academics, athletics, and life felt overwhelming. “It’s okay to feel stressed. It’s okay to feel anxious. That’s normal,” she shared. “Especially at this high level of sport, as long as you know and understand that there are people rooting for you — your teammates, your coaches — [that] you’re here for a reason… if you can just reassure yourself of those things, especially when times are extremely tough, you can get through a lot.”
For Jaglall, mental health isn’t just a private matter; it’s directly tied to her academic and athletic performance. “If you’re stressed about school, that’s going to carry on to how you play,” she observes. She mentioned that embedded counselling and accessibility services have helped her navigate the pressures of being both a student and an athlete.
The trailblazers of women’s basketball
Through her studies and lived experience, Jaglall is determined to change the narrative for women in sports. “The women’s game is only growing… It’s only going up from here,” she said.
Inspired by trailblazers like Diana Taurasi and younger stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, who are reshaping perceptions of women’s basketball, Jaglall wants “to educate younger girls and women that are trying to get into sports but feel as though they can’t because they’re a [girl].”
Jaglall has spent her undergraduate career analyzing the systemic barriers that women athletes face. She compares the historic underrepresentation in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) to the current surge in its visibility and popularity, noting how the league’s growth mirrors broader societal shifts in women’s rights.
She recalled seeing a video from a New York Liberty game in 2020: “It was a small gym, and there were so many empty seats.” Fast forward to 2023, and their finals game was packed. “The game is growing, and not just in the National Collegiate Athletics Association or the WNBA, but across all sports,” she said. For her, this is not just a victory for women in basketball — it’s a signpost for the changing culture surrounding women’s sports at large.
When Jaglall talks about gender equality in sports, her passion is contagious. “If people can understand that [women athletes] put the same amount of work in as the guys, it would make all the difference,” she emphasized. The key to unlocking this potential, she suggests, is breaking the artificial boundaries that limit women’s visibility and equal recognition in sports. “It’s just that there’s a W before the NBA, but it’s the same thing,” she said.
Her own journey is shaped not just by the game but also by the camaraderie she shares with her teammates. “I have made friends for life. These girls are my sisters… they see you at your best and your worst,” she said. “Win or lose, we stick together.” This sense of sisterhood provides a foundation for the collective strength that defines her experiences.
“I would not be here without my teammates,” she acknowledged.
Jaglall advocates for a future where promotion and recognition of women athletes are not afterthoughts but core aspects of women’s athletics, challenging the outdated structures that have long undervalued women athletes’ contributions.
“I want us to feel heard, and I want us to be seen the way we should be, because there is so much that women bring to the table… it’s underlooked, and it’s going to be looked at one day. And I want to be the reason, I want to be a part of the change.”
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