Women's Blue Chip Basketball League
Current season, competition or edition: | |
The premier development league for women basketball players. | |
Sport | Basketball |
---|---|
Founded | 2004 |
Inaugural season | 2005 |
President | Willie McCray |
No. of teams | 37 |
Country | United States |
Continent | FIBA Americas (Americas) |
Most recent champion(s) | Atlanta Monarchs (2018) |
Most titles | Conyers Conquers, Rock County Robins, and St. Louis Surge (2) |
TV partner(s) | WBCBL-TV |
Official website | WBCBL.com |
The Women’s Blue-Chip Basketball League was founded in November 2004 by Willie McCray as a professional development female basketball league. With the assistance of co-founders Cortez Bond and Prentiss Broadway, the WBCBL has provided players with top rate competition and exposure to professional scouts from around the world.
The WBCBL's mission is to provide highly competitive basketball for women in the United States. The competition level vary from former college players to former NWBL, WNBA players and current International players.
As of August 2017,[1] the WBCBL has 37 teams across North America. The season typically operates from late April until early August and concludes with a National Tournament hosted by one of the WBCBL's member teams.
The 2017 WBCBL Championship Game was won by the Georgia Soul over the St. Louis Surge, 64-63, after the Surge missed a last-second attempt to win the game.
Teams
As of August 2017, the roster of teams in the WBCBL is as follows.[2]
Atlantic Division
- Beaufort Bison
- Capital City Cougars
- Conyers Rockets
- Georgia Soul
Carolinas Division
- Carolina Lady Rush
- Charlotte Invasion
- Georgia Stampede
- Winston-Salem Lady Warcats
East Coast Division
- Baltimore Cougars
- D.M.V. Bucks
- Long Island Wave
- Maryland Queens
- Virginia Lady Warriors
Gulf South Division
- Alabama Reign
- Gulf Coast Tropics
- Louisiana Bayou Angels
- Music City Icons
Mid-South Division
- Dallas Crest
- Dallas Diesel
- San Antonio Crusaders
- Texas Storm
Midwest Division
- Iowa Force
- Kansas City Majestics
- Midwest Flyers
- Nebraska Strikers
- St. Louis Surge
Northeast Division
- Cleveland Crush
- Detroit Dodgers
- Grand Rapids Galaxy
- Louisville Fillies
- Toledo Threat
Suncoast Division
- Central Florida
- Jacksonville Panthers
- Jacksonville Tigers
- Orlando Stars
West Coast Division
- Calgary Storm
- Oakland Rise
- Phoenix Elite
- San Diego Sprint
- Southern California Splash
- Tucson Sol
Former teams
- Arkansas Ballers
- Arkansas Starz
- Atlanta J.C. Crew
- Atlanta Flames
- Atlanta Riverhawks
- Charleston Lowcountry Fire
- Chicago Lady Steam
- Dade County Bulls
- Detroit Black Hawks
- Elgin Rim Rockers
- Fayetteville Lady Rush
- Fayetteville Lady Xpress
- Florida Lady Knighthawks
- Illinois Starlights
- Johnstown Super Stars
- Lakewood Lady Panthers
- Louisville Fillies
- Memphis Tigers
- Minnesota Black Ice
- New Orleans Riders
- Orange Park Crusaders
- Orlando Extreme
- Palm Beach Sabers
- Rock County Robins
- Savannah Warriors
- Shreveport Sting
- Tampa Five Star
- Tampa X-Factor
- Virginia Lady Supremes
Champions
Season | Champion | Runner-up | Result | Host city |
---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | Conyers Conquerors | Dallas Diesel | 67-59 | Dallas, TX |
2006 | Conyers Conquerors | Atlanta Flames | 57-53 | Atlanta, GA |
2007 | Arkansas Ballers | Shreveport Sting | 90-50 | Memphis, TN |
2008 | Tampa X Factor | Savannah Lady Warriors | 73-71 | Mobile, AL |
2009 | Savannah Lady Warriors | Chicago Lady Steam | 74-72 | Tampa, FL |
2010 | Rock County Robins[3] | Gulf Coast Storm | 71-67 | Miami Gardens, FL |
2011 | Rock County Robins | Orlando Extreme | 85-73 | Atlanta, GA |
2012 | Louisiana Bayou Angels | St. Louis Surge | 90-80 | Miami Lakes, FL |
2013 | Auburn Flyers[4] | Louisiana Bayou Angels | 95-73 | St. Louis, MO |
2014 | St. Louis Surge[5] | Auburn Flyers | 81-69 | New Orleans, LA |
2015 | Charlotte Invasion[6] | St. Louis Surge | 98-86 | Greenville, SC |
2016 | St. Louis Surge | Midwest Flyers | 77-62 | San Antonio, Texas |
2017 | Georgia Soul | St. Louis Surge | 64-63 | St. Louis, MO |
2018 | Atlanta Monarchs | St. Louis Surge | 80-79 | Charlotte, NC |
WBCBL Professional Basketball Trailblazer Award
In honor of the Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League’s 10th anniversary, the 2015 Women’s Professional Basketball “Trailblazer” Award was given on August 2, 2015 to ten female basketball icons, including Cynthia Cooper, Nancy Lieberman, Sarah Campbell, Dr. Robelyn Garcia, Lynette Woodard, Kandi Conda, Lisa Leslie, E.C. Hill, Dr. Geri Kay Hart and Tamika Catchings.[7] The award recognizes some of the most influential people in professional women’s basketball, specifically those who helped blaze the trail, shape the overall landscape and pave the way for women’s professional basketball.[8] These 10 women have prevailed to greatness in a male dominated sport and give hope to young girls who inspire to be professional players, coaches, and team owners.[9]
References
- ↑ "Teams". WBCBL. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- ↑ "Teams". WBCBL. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ↑ "Rock County Robins Win 2010 WBCBL National Championship". Women's Basketball Buzz. 24 August 2010.
- ↑ "Auburn Flyers are the 2013 WBCBL National Champs". USbasket. 6 August 2013.
- ↑ "St. Louis Surge win WBCBL National Title". St. Louis Basketball News. 6 August 2014.
- ↑ "Charlotte Invasion capture 2015 WBCBL National Title". WBCBL News. 6 August 2015.
- ↑ "WBCBL to Honor 10 trailblazers in Women's Professional Basketball". WBCBL News. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ↑ "Woodard and Garcia Honored as trailblazers in Women's Professional Basketball". WBCBL News. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
- ↑ "2015 WBCBL Trailblazer Award in Women's Professional Basketball". Arizona Athletics Official Website. Retrieved July 9, 2015.