By Shane Donaldson
Associate Athletic Director, Communication and New Media

KINGSTON, R.I. - Whenever first-year guard Alex Newson steps on the court for the first time, she will be making history as the first person from Prince Edward Island - male or female - to play NCAA Division I basketball.

Initially, the plan was for this to happen at UAlbany, where Newson had committed to play for Colleen Mullen. However, when Mullen was tabbed as Rhode Island's head coach in late March, those plans were altered. Newson joined Mullen on the journey to URI.

"The coaching staff was a big part of it," Newson said. "I was originally going to UAlbany, but when the coaching staff came to Rhode Island, I decided to come with them. They obviously created a good culture there and you see that with the number of players they brought with them here. That has to be a good sign.

"Rhode Island was a win-win situation. This program is coming off an Atlantic 10 championship. There was a winning culture here on campus, and the academics were great as well. The surrounding area is beautiful."

So now Kingston is the latest stop for the King's Christian Collegiate standout. A 5-10 shooting guard, Newson has already accomplished a great deal in her young career. Earlier this summer, she helped Canada win the silver medal at the FIBA U18 Women's AmeriCup 2026 in Mexico. She came off the bench to score 12 points in a 104-40 win over Puerto Rico, again in a 64-52 semifinal win over Argentina. She earned a start and again scored 12 points in a 90-72 loss to the United States in the championship game.

"Shooting is a strength in my game, but I am a three-level scorer," Newson said. "I can get to the rim, and I can hit pull-ups too. Catch-and-shoot is a big part of my game. I like to get up and down the court and play defense too."

There is a lot to like about Newson's game. She was one of the most prolific offensive high school players in Canada the last couple years, and she has been productive at the international level as well. For her, the next step is proving herself at Rhode Island with her new team.

"The coaches saw something in each of us that made them think we would mesh well together," Newson said. "Not just on the basketball court, but off the court as well. If we are going to be spending so much time together, you need to be able to be friends. It's a testament to the coaching staff's ability to read into who we each are as people. That ability to connect off the court is only going to carry over onto the court. Outside of basketball, we have been doing a lot of activities together on our own time. There is a lot of communication going on, which is helping everyone really connect."

Though she is young, Newson appreciates the game on a deep level. Ask her what basketball means to her, and a pensive smile forms on her face.

"It is love," Newson said. "None of us would be here if we didn't love the game. You have to love it if you are going to play at the Division I level. Basketball gives you a chance to have everything else in life leave your mind so you can focus on the game. Any time you step on the court, it is a break from school, personal issues, family issues, whatever it is. You can clear your mind for a bit, and then go back to whatever it is later, with a clearer mind about it."

One thing Newson has had a clear mind about is her commitment to Mullen and her staff.

"Bringing four players over from a program is not easy, especially in today's college game," Newson said. "Even the people who are coming in from other places, you see the type of people this coaching staff focuses on. They know the people they are bringing in, and it has been easy to see how we all fit in together.

"Coach Mullen pushes us really hard on the floor, but off the floor she can connect with us really well. She has normal life conversations with us. She asks about what is going on in our lives. She asks about our families. She makes real connections. It is not something you can fake, and it makes a difference when she is then on the court trying to coach all of us."

All of which has Newson excited for the next stop on her basketball journey, Kingston, R.I.

"Rhode Island is a small state, so you know it's going to be a close-knit community," Newson said. "Coach Mullen played here, and she has been telling me about all of the good things the place and the people have to offer. There is fan support.

"Everybody knows who you are when you go out to the store. It's kind of cool when people already recognize you when you go out to the community. In a bigger state or city, that probably wouldn't happen as much. It makes this school special because you can have those interactions with fans."

 

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Catch up on the previous Summer Sessions features, written by Shane Donaldson:

Summer Sessions: Queen Ikhiuwu

Summer Sessions: Martina Borrellas

Summer Sessions: Delanie Hill

Summer Sessions: Sophia Vital

Summer Sessions: Amaya Stewart