Emilie Lafond is a self-acknowledged homebody.

It was a big part of the reason why the Valley East native opted to pursue her post-secondary basketball career at Laurentian University, completing a very successful run at L.U. this past spring.

Roughly one month from now or so, however, when the challenge of bureaucratic international paperwork is completed, Lafond will be calling Coimbra (Portugal) home, having signed her first pro contract with the Olivais Futebol Club team, a highly successful organization with national titles and multiple Portuguese Cup triumphs to its credit.

“I’ve never been away from home, so this is going to be a really good experience for me,” said Lafond. “I get to experience something completely new.”

Geographically speaking, that is true. On the basketball side, it appears there will be some degrees of familiarity with the on-court product.

“They have sent me plays that I should be looking at but fortunately for me, these are plays that I have run before,” said the OUA all-star and Laurentian Female Athlete of the Year (2025-2026). “I’m familiar with staggers and screens and stuff like that, which is good.”

“I think they are expecting me to step off the plane and be able to play.”

That is her expectation as well - though, to be honest, the reality of this being an option was something that came to her somewhat gradually over the years.

“It was something that I was thinking about in high-school, that it might be a really cool experience, something I would be interested in pursuing,” said Lafond. “But it wasn’t until my third, maybe fourth year (at Laurentian) where I thought this was really a possibility for me.”

“That’s when I started to put in even more work to take the steps to really make this happen.”

Many of those steps came in practice sessions at the Ben Avery Gym or in the workout room at the Laurentian Fieldhouse. But Lafond also tapped into the help of folks close at hand, folks who have navigated the international basketball scene, at least to some extent. Folks like coaches Jason Hurley and Samantha Cooper.

Following his playing days with the Voyageurs in the early to mid nineties, Hurley tapped into his cultural roots to enjoy a few seasons in the pro ranks in Ireland. Cooper, for her part, has travelled extensively in Europe, with pro basketball stops in Luxembourg, Sweden, Greece and Spain, just to name a few.

“Sam has so much overseas experience that she was able to guide me a lot,” said Lafond. “I was able to ask her questions, which was fantastic. As soon as I didn’t know what I was doing, I would text her.”

Cooper actually helped connect the Lo-Ellen Park graduate with her current agent as the 6’3” post / forward now awaits her work Visa before being able to make her way across the pond.

“Everything is so new and different that just going in and getting my feet wet, getting a feel for what the level of competition is like is key,” said Lafond. “I’m not sure what a reasonable comparison is in terms of OUA basketball - but I’m excited for the experience.”

“For me, this is about wanting to compete, wanting to be able to play a good level of basketball.”

If she had her way, however, this yearning desire might not require a six hour flight, might not require her to even leave the Laurentian family she holds so dear. “If I could, I would keep playing there (at L.U.).”

Eligibility requirements being what they are, five seasons of U Sports memories will have to suffice. But what a treasure chest of memories the super friendly young woman has amassed.

“It’s hard to put into words exactly what it was like,” said Lafond. “I really loved every single year I was there. It was such an amazing experience and I am so grateful I got to be part of it. Just being part of something bigger than yourself, surrounded by amazing coaches and teammates - and competing at that level.”

Truth is that Emilie Lafond is every bit as thankful for her time with the Voyageurs as she was certain that was the right choice when universities came courting back in those pre-Covid days.

“Looking back on it, it was Laurentian all the time,” she said. “It was always going to be Laurentian. There was nowhere else I could see myself being.”

At least until late 2026, when a whole new chapter opens up for the local basketball star, carrying her to another place to call home, at least for a few years, hopefully.