Women's Basketball Development Association
The Women’s Basketball Development Association (WBDA) is a professional development female basketball league.
 | |
| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2004 |
| Inaugural season | 2005 |
| President | William Kelly |
| No. of teams | 30 |
| Country | United States |
| Continent | FIBA Americas (Americas) |
| Most recent champion(s) | Orlando Boom (2019) |
| Most titles | Conyers Conquers, Rock County Robins, and St. Louis Surge (2) |
| Official website | WBDApro.com |
The season typically operates from late April until early August and concludes with a league championship hosted by one of the WBDAs member teams.
History
Founded in November 2004 as the Women's Blue Chip Basketball League (WBCBL) by Willie McCray with the assistance of co-founders Cortez Bond and Prentiss Broadway, the league provides players with top rate competition and exposure to professional scouts from around the world.
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.
Willie McCray stepped away from the league in September of 2018 handing off the day-to-day operations to William Kelly.[1] The league was rebranded as WBDA.
Teams
| Eastern Conference | City |
|---|---|
| All Army Team | San Antonio, TX |
| Atlanta Monarchs | Atlanta, GA |
| Baltimore Lions | Baltimore, MD |
| Cleveland Crush | Cleveland, OH |
| Dade County Lady Bulls | Miami, FL |
| Detroit Dodgers | Detroit, MI |
| Fort Myers Bobcats | Fort Myers, FL |
| Greensboro Havoc | Greensboro, NC |
| Jacksonville Lady Panthers | Jacksonville, FL |
| Lake Erie Strive | Irving, NY |
| New Jersey Sting | Cherry Hill, NJ |
| Orlando Boom | Orlando, FL |
| Philadelphia Reign | Philadelphia, PA |
| Riviera Beach Heatwave | Riviera Beach, FL |
| Toledo Threat | Toledo, OH |
| Toronto Lady Elite 1s | Toronto, Ontario |
| Western Conference | City |
| AS1 Hoops | San Luis Potosí, México |
| Birmingham Legends | Birmingham, AL |
| Chicago Lady Rage | Chicago, IL |
| Dallas Crest | Dallas, TX |
| Finesse Flight | Tucson, AZ |
| Grand Rapids Galaxy | Grand Rapids, MI |
| Kansas City Royal Heirs | Kansas City, MO |
| Killeen Force | Killeen, TX |
| Las Vegas Gems | Las Vegas, NV |
| Milwaukee Aces | Milwaukee, WI |
| Oakland Rise | Oakland, CA |
| Phoenix Lady Elite 1s | Phoenix, AZ |
| Shreveport-Bossier Lady Knights | Bossier, LA |
| SoCal Splash | Fullerton, CA |
| TC Queen Elite | Minneapolis, MN |
Former teams
- Arkansas Ballers
- Arkansas Starz
- Atlanta J.C. Crew
- Atlanta Flames
- Atlanta Riverhawks
- Baltimore Cougars
- Beaufort Bison
- Calgary Storm
- Capital City Cougars
- Carolina Lady Rush
- Charleston Lowcountry Fire
- Charlotte Invasion
- Chicago Lady Steam
- Conyers Rockets
- Dallas Diesel
- Detroit Black Hawks
- D.M.V. Bucks
- Elgin Rim Rockers
- Fayetteville Lady Rush
- Fayetteville Lady Xpress
- Florida Lady Knighthawks
- Georgia Soul
- Georgia Stampede
- Gulf Coast Tropics
- Illinois Starlights
- Jacksonville Tigers
- Johnstown Super Stars
- Kansas City Majestics
- Lakewood Lady Panthers
- Long Island Wave
- Louisiana Bayou Angels
- Louisville Fillies
- Maryland Queens
- Memphis Tigers
- Midwest Flyers
- Minnesota Black Ice
- Music City Icons
- Nebraska Strikers
- New Orleans Riders
- Orange Park Crusaders
- Orlando Extreme
- Orlando Stars
- Palm Beach Sabers
- Rock County Robins
- San Antonio Crusaders
- San Diego Sprint
- Savannah Warriors
- Shreveport Sting
- St. Louis Surge
- Tampa Five Star
- Tampa X-Factor
- Texas Storm
- Virginia Lady Supremes
- Virginia Lady Warriors
- Winston-Salem Lady Warcats
Champions
| Season | WBCBL 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[2] | 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[3] | Louisiana Bayou Angels | 95-73 | St. Louis, MO |
| 2014 | St. Louis Surge[4] | Auburn Flyers | 81-69 | New Orleans, LA |
| 2015 | Charlotte Invasion[5] | 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 |
| Season | WBDA Champion | Runner-up | Result | Host city |
| 2019 | Orlando Boom | Phoenix Lady Elite 1’s | 87-82 | Kansas City, MO |
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.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8]
References
- "WBCBL retirement". WBCBL. September 24, 2018.
- "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.