Interviewing Jaia Guy is, well, a riot.
A fifth-year member of the Regina Riot, Guy told her story with considerable humour leading up to Sunday’s Western Women’s Canadian Football League opener against the visiting Saskatoon Valkyries.
“I was constantly fouling out in basketball, so they said, ‘You’d be perfect for football,’ ” she said with a laugh.
“I tried it and I’ve never looked back.”
She played flag football until taking up the tackle version of the sport as a member of the Regina Victorias — a Regina Minor Football team for players in Grades 7 to 12. The Riot came calling in 2022.
A linebacker at first, she moved to the defensive line, then to the offensive line, before transferring back to her original position this year.
Regardless of the assignment, the mindset does not change.
“I get to do everything I did in basketball and not get called for it,” Guy said. “It’s beautiful.”
Even when the weather isn’t beautiful, she can’t wait to get to the field for a practice or a game.
Early in training camp, for example, the Riot held enthusiastic workouts despite a snowstorm.
“Oh my gosh,” Guy said. “For the poor rookies who had never been out there before, we were saying, ‘OK, wear layers. You don’t think you’re going to need them, but you will,’ ” Guy said. “All the vets were handing out gear, saying, ‘I brought an extra shirt’ and ‘I have extra gloves.’
“I didn’t have any hand warmers, because I gave my gloves to a teammate. We were doing a drill and I could not feel my hands. All of a sudden, I found a hand warmer on the ground — already warmed!
“It just like dropped from the heavens. It was a sign. It made my day. I carried that thing around with me for the rest of practice. It was just a gift. I don’t know whose it was — and I wasn’t about to return it — but it was great.”
Playing for the Riot is a full-circle experience for Guy, who grew up going to the team’s games with her mother.
As a youngster, Guy watched future teammates such as Claire Dore and Aimee Kowalski play for the Riot. Dore is now the team’s head coach. Kowalski serves as the general manager.
“It has been amazing to watch that program and see it grow,” Guy said.
Now she is about to contribute to its growth for a fifth season as a player — beginning on Sunday, 1 p.m., at Leibel Field.
“It’s going to be great,” Guy said. “We’ve been circling it on our calendar. We’re so excited to get out on the field.”
Adding to the excitement, Sunday’s Riot-Valkyries matchup doubles as the 12th annual Teal Game, benefiting Ovarian Cancer Canada.
“We love our ladies at OCC and we’re just flattered and honoured to be able to do this so early in the season, in our home opener,” Guy said.
The Valkyries’ home opener is set for May 17 against the Manitoba Fearless. Saskatoon will play host to Regina one week later. Both of the Valkyries’ regular-season home games are set for 1 p.m., at SMF Field.
(The Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation supports all elite football in Saskatchewan.)