Micaëlla Riché at Sports Day The Girls’ Way 2025. Photo: Isabella Disley

A decade ago, Micaëlla Riché never would have imagined she’d find herself speaking on a stage at TD Place. Back then, she saw herself coaching NCAA basketball for the rest of her life, having earned a full-time coaching job at age 24.

But when the U.S. denied her work visa, Riché’s life took a U-turn that’s ultimately led her on an even more meaningful path.

The 33-year-old now serves as the executive director of Lay-Up Youth Basketball, a charity that provides cost-free programs “centred on the culture of basketball designed to develop the skills kids need on and off the court” in low-income communities in Toronto.

On Monday, she was welcomed back to her hometown as one of four inspiring role models speaking to 600 female elementary school students attending Sports Day The Girls’ Way, an event seeking to empower young girls to be active, build confidence, and stay engaged in sport.

The day started with a panel discussion featuring Riché, Kady Dandeneau, Rebecca Leslie and Mathilde Renaud, followed by the chance to try basketball, wheelchair basketball, flag football, soccer and tennis.

“This day is special,” Riché underlined. “It’s really beautiful to see so many young girls wanting to be active and play.”

Riché starred on the courts for Louis-Riel high school and Team Ontario as a teenager. She went on the play for the University of Minnesota and Kansas State University, earning academic honours while studying kinesiology and science, counselling and student development.

She’s also played for Team Canada and professionally in Greece, but her biggest impact has been felt as a coach and administrator with Lay-Up.

“As a coach, it’s all about getting to know your players as people first, and helping them find self-belief through sport,” Riché highlighted in a Coaches Association of Ontario article charting her career, through good and bad. “Teaching kids, many who are new to sports, about the fundamentals of the game, social interaction, life skills – I see it as a huge reward.”

Growing up in a military family, Riché found that sports gave her a place to connect with others and taught her the importance of trying your best, working hard and having fun.

“The lessons, that camaraderie, the future work skills – and the fact that I get to work in sport full-time now – are really special, and so I’m really thankful for all the lessons and all of the people who helped me along the way and created spaces and opportunities for me to play,” signalled Riché.

For Riché, sports have had a profound impact on her life since she can remember, and one of the biggest lessons she learned was “how you do anything is how you do everything” – a principle she believes applies to life as a whole.

“I would say the (most empowering) part is about being able to practice a skill and get better at it. That translates to the rest of life, right?” indicated Riché, who’s started studying for a PhD in educational sustainability with Nipissing University. “If you can work on something and be intentional about it and then see results, that applies to everything.”

Micaëlla Riché playing for the Louis-Riel Rebelles in 2009. File photo

Rebecca Leslie is an Ottawa Charge forward who is living out her dream of playing PWHL hockey in her hometown. But growing up, Leslie dreamed of playing in the NHL because at the time, there wasn’t a professional women’s hockey league.

Leslie spoke about how she was determined to keep training and working despite hearing people say, “There will never be a professional women’s hockey league.” The former Kanata Rangers and Ottawa Lady Sens player never gave up and didn’t take no for an answer. She said perseverance is the top trait she wants to be known for.

“All I can control is my effort and my attitude,” she explained. “My teammates won’t remember how many minutes I played, but my teammates will remember me as if I’m a good teammate.”

Sports have given Leslie many special moments – including several clutch goals scored during Ottawa’s run to the PWHL finals last season – but the friendships she’s formed is perhaps what she cherishes most. During the summer, Leslie got married, and her bridesmaids were a mix of current and past teammates from the sports that she played.

Leslie concluded her remarks by encouraging everyone to be a sponge, the same way she was advised to when she was younger.

“Absorb as much information as you can,” Leslie emphasized. “Ask questions. If you don’t know the answer, ask the question again.”

Rebecca Leslie. Photo: Isabella Disley

This article is part of the Ottawa Sports Pages’ Inclusion in Sport series. Read more about local sport inclusion initiatives at: OttawaSportsPages.ca/Ottawa-Sports-Pages-Inclusion-In-Sport-Series/.