Leah Tate is an all-star soccer player but chose to pursue basketball at the post-secondary level. She says the decision wasn't easy. "I've been playing basketball since I was little and I train everyday for basketball so it was kinda of destined to play basketball eventhough I still like soccer a lot." Tate said.
The Holy Names grad has officially signed on to be a Windsor Lancer and will suit up for Chantal Vallee's team this fall. "I saw her play in her season before high school and I thought what a phenomenal athlete." said Vallee, who wasn't fazed by the talk that Tate was more focused on soccer. "I thought ya that's great. We just kept talking and kept bringing her to games. Inviting her. Keeping in touch.
Tate had offers to play elsewhere but is happy to stay home and play in front of her family and friends. "Being my hometown I'm really excited." Tate said. "I chose here because the facility is great. The school is great. The team was very welcoming. It was fun to come train with them during my last year of high school."
Vallee is excited to have a top local athlete join her squad. Tate was a WECSSAA allstar and helped the Knights qualify for the OFSAA championship game this past season. She scored 23 points and keyed a second half comeback that fell short as Holy Names settled for silver.
"I think Leah is a game-changer." said Vallee who has heard people compare Tate's athleticism to 4-time national champion and 3-time national tournament MVP Miah Langlois who suited up for Team Canada at the 2016 Olympics. "I've heard people compare her to Miah. They're different but the same level of athlete. Once she really gets her basketball skills under her I wouldn't be surprised if she would go pretty far."
Tate will take the summer to get accustomed to the speed of the USport game and hopes to help the program return to its glory days.