Abbotsford, BC – The University of the Fraser Valley women's basketball program has announced its 2025 recruiting class, with eight local standouts set to join the team for their upcoming campaign.
Ashlyn Adams, Mya Buttar, Priya Toor, Nicole Folka, Carmen Folka, Jada Paquin, Natalie Curley, and Jessica Parkinson will look to make the jump to Canada West competition next fall with the Cascades.
Jada Paquin
6'2" Forward
GW Graham Secondary
Excel Basketball
A two-time EVAA senior girls All-Star, Paquin joins the Cascades with the intention to study kinesiology at UFV.
"I believe UFV is the best choice for me and my personal goals for the future," the forward noted. "I want to become the best version of myself individually and as a player."
Head coach
Al Tuchscherer explained that Paquin has the potential to succeed at the next level.
"She loves getting in the gym and working on her game and we think she'll fit into our team culture. She is a long post who can really stretch her game out to the 3-point line, and she was a great scorer in high school that could seamlessly change shots at the defensive end of the floor."
Nicole Folka
5'7" Guard
GW Graham Secondary
Excel Basketball
Having twice earned MVP honours at the Cascade Classic, Nicole Folka joins the Cascades with her sister Carmen after a high school career at GW Graham.
"I chose UFV because it offers a great opportunity to grow both in the classroom and on the court. It's a university where I can develop as a student, athlete, and individual, while being part of a strong and supportive community," she explained. "UFV has a successful and competitive team, and I'm looking forward to playing under an experienced coaching staff. I can't wait to join the returning players and new recruits—there's a great energy around the program, and I'm excited to be a part of it."
Coach Tuchscherer noted Nicole's grit and physicality as attributes that will really help her as she joins UFV.
"Nicole won't hesitate to put her body on the line and taking charges became her trademark in high school. She has toughness in her game, she is always fit, and she can score off the dribble and with her shot."
Carmen Folka
5'7" Guard
GW Graham Secondary
Excel Basketball
Carmen Folka, a 4A BC School Sports Second-Team All-Star in 2025, will join her sister Nicole as new recruits for the Cascades this Fall.
"The culture surrounding the athletics program at UFV had a significant influence in my choice," Folka explained. "I was also drawn to UFV because of its well-regarded kinesiology program."
"Carm can score in a variety of ways including getting downhill or beating you with the 3 ball," coach Tuchscherer noted.
Tuchscherer continued to explain that both sisters bring important attributes, and familiarity to the program.
"Carmen and Nicole are both fierce competitors who are exceptional ball handlers. Both have been around our program since they were in middle school if not earlier. We are excited to see the Folka sisters attack their summer workouts and thrive in the Cascade environment."
Ashlyn Adams
5'10" Guard
GW Graham
Excel Basketball
Another member of the GW Graham Grizzlies, Ashlyn Adams was named the school's MVP in 2024. A talented shooting guard, Adams highlighted the team dynamic and proximity to home as reasons for her decision to join the Cascades.
Coach Tuchscherer pointed to Adams' versatility as a huge upside.
"She is an instinctual player who we are really excited to work with now that she has dedicated herself to basketball. She was comfortable playing all 5 positions in high school, that may be a stretch at our level, but the experience allows her to be just as comfortable operating in paint as she is in the open court."
Natalie Curley
6'2" Forward
Riverside Secondary
VK Basketball
A 2023 BC High School Provincial Champion with Riverside Secondary, Curley comes to the Cascades after spending time at Simon Fraser University. The former provincial All-Star noted that UFV was a good fit to continue her education and athletic career.
"It's a great basketball community, an excellent criminal justice program, and close to home. All around a good fit."
Tuchscherer noted the program is excited to bring Curley into the fold for next season.
"After sitting out the past 2 years, we are excited to have this high school standout join our squad. In our early scrimmages she has shown us her great length and touch around the hoop. We think she is going to thrive in our offensive system where she will have the opportunity to showcase her vast skill set. I'm excited to have Natalie come in and really add something different and solidify our forward group."
Jessica Parkinson
5'11" Forward
Dr Charles Best Secondary
Excel Basketball
A member of team BC at the U15 and U17 level, Parkinson explained that the people around the program are a big part of he decision to join UFV.
"I chose UFV because of the awesome players and coaches there. I know the environment is good and everyone takes care of each other. They have a strong basketball program that I am looking forward to being a part of."
Coach Tuchscherer said Parkinson is "a powerful forward with great finesse in her game that allows her to face the basket and shoot or attack off the dribble with relevant ease."
"She has shown early that she won't hold back against more veteran players, and we look forward to seeing her play the stretch 4 for us and being a difficult matchup for teams to play against."
Mya Buttar
5'10" Guard / Forward
Mennonite Educational Institute
Excel Basketball
Buttar helped her MEI Eagles squad capture the BC high school 3A provincial title this past year, and now turns her sights on a post-secondary career with the Cascades.
"I can't wait to continue my basketball journey as a Cascade,'" said Buttar.
"Thank you to coach
Al Tuchscherer and
Dan Nayebzadeh for creating an extremely welcoming environment for me with the UFV women's basketball program. I am very grateful for this opportunity, and I look forward to continuing both my education and athletic journey at UFV."
Tuchscherer explained he is excited to see Buttar's continued development.
"She's an athlete that can play 1 to 3, and we feel that Mya is just starting to blossom as a basketball player. We are excited to see her game develop everyday. She is someone who has always been able to shoot but we have seen some other parts of game emerging in our early scrimmages."
Priya Toor
5'5" Guard
Seaquam Secondary
Athelite Basketball Academy
Toor is a two-time 4A provincial champion as Seaquam Secondary's point guard and will now join the Cascades for her post-secondary career.
"I chose UFV for its close proximity to home and the amazing team culture that has been built in the women's basketball program. The values that are held for each player is something I feel deeply connected to and I look forward to implementing those values in my life over the next few years."
According to coach Tuchscherer, Toor brings strong play that will help out the team in a year's time.
"She's a defensive conscious player who thrives at finding the right people on the court at the right time. We are excited to have a more traditional type point guard on our team. Unfortunately, injury will hold her out for us until the 26-27 season."
The Cascades women's basketball program is coming off their second consecutive trip to the conference final four this season, and will look for another strong year as the team's 2025-26 season gets underway this fall. Full season schedules will be released by Canada West later this summer, so stay tuned to gocascades.ca and @ufvcascades on social media for all the details and updates. All UFV Cascades Canada West regular season and playoff basketball games are available to be streamed live and on demand at canadawest.tv.
