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
The Women's Blue Chip Basketball League (WBCBL) was originally founded in November 2004 by Willie McCray Jr, with the assistance of co-founders Cortez Bond and Prentiss Broadway. The WBCBL provided former college players with top rate competition and exposure to professional scouts from around the world. The WBCBL also featured FIBA, former NWBL & WNBA players. The WBCBL was the first national women's development basketball league and the largest nationwide women's basketball league in North America, with a peak of 50 teams.
From 2004 to 2018, the WBCBL created hundreds of jobs across the North America and assisted in filling over 400 professional basketball jobs around the world.
In September of 2018, WBCBL founder and president Willie McCray retired and handed off the day-to-day operations to William Kelly.[1] The league was rebranded as the Women's Basketball Development Association (WBDA) and continues as a successful platform in professional development.
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
- Asheville Lady Panthers
- Atlanta Battlecats
- Atlanta Diamond
- Atlanta Flames
- Atlanta J.C. Crew
- Atlanta Riverhawks
- Augusta Blaze
- Baltimore Cougars
- Beaufort Bison
- Brevard Flames
- C-Port Lady Hornets
- Calgary Storm
- Capital City Cougars
- Carolina Lady Rush
- Central VA All-Stars
- Charleston Lowcountry Fire
- Charlotte Heat
- Charlotte Invasion
- Chicago Lady Steam
- Cleveland Crush
- College Park Warriors
- Columbia Reign
- Columbus Hidden Gems
- Columbus Lady Warriors
- Conyers Rockets
- Conway Bearcats
- Dallas Angels
- Dallas Crest
- Dallas Diesel
- Dallas Dolphins
- Dallas Sudden Impact
- DC Blue Stars
- DC Blue Streakz
- Delaware Lady Destroyers
- Delta Storm
- Detroit Black Hawks
- Detroit Dodgers
- Detroit Dolphins
- D.M.V. Bucks
- Douglasville Mustangs
- East Texas Drillers
- Elgin Rim Rockers
- Everett Elite
- EYG Plano Eagles
- Fayetteville Lady Rush
- Fayetteville Lady Xpress
- Flint Flames
- Flint Monarchs
- Florida Lady Knighthawks
- Fort Lauderdale Lions
- Georgia Soul
- Georgia Stampede
- Grand Rapids Galaxy
- Greenville Allstars
- Gulf Coast Storm
- Gulf Coast Tropics
- Gwinnett Starz
- Hudson Valley Queens
- Houston Jaguars
- Houston Sparks
- Huntsville Lady Hornets
- Illinois Shooting Stars
- Illinois Starlights
- Iowa Force
- Jacksonville Beach Panthers
- Jacksonville Cougars
- Jacksonville Reign
- Jacksonville Tigers
- Jersey Fusion
- Johnstown Super Stars
- Kansas City Majestics
- Kansas City Queens
- Kansas Nuggets
- Killeen Force
- Jonesboro Flames
- Las Vegas Gems
- Las Vegas Heat
- Lakewood Lady Panthers
- Lexington Lightning
- Long Island Wave
- Louisiana Bayou Angels
- Louisiana Blaze
- Louisiana All-Stars
- Louisville Fillies
- Maryland Queens
- Mass Marvels
- Memphis Express
- Memphis Hoopsters
- Memphis Lady Blazers
- Memphis Tigers
- M.I. Express
- Miami Rain
- Midwest Flyers
- Minnesota Black Ice
- Mississippi Dream
- Mississippi Rockstars
- Mississippi Storm
- Missouri Arch Angels
- Montgomery Dream
- Music City Icons
- Native Dream
- Nebraska Strikers
- New Orleans Riders
- North Whitehall Lasers
- North Texas Flash
- NYC Exodus
- Oakland-Macomb Run
- Oakland Rise
- Ohio Dynasty
- Oklahoma Flash
- Oklahoma Heat
- Olympia Matrix
- Orange Park Crusaders
- Orlando Extreme
- Orlando Splash
- Orlando Stars
- Out West Elite
- Palm Beach Sabers
- Palm Beach Storm
- Phoenix Lady Elite 1's
- Phoenix Rockets
- Portland Energy
- RDU Sting
- Richmond Flames
- Riviera Beach Heatwave
- Rock County Robins
- San Antonio Crusaders
- San Diego Sol
- San Diego Sprint
- Savannah Warriors
- Seattle Express
- Shreveport Ballers
- Shreveport Sting
- Shreveport Sting
- St. Louis Surge
- SoCal Splash
- South Carolina Legends
- South Carolina
- Tacoma Stars
- Tallahassee Thunder
- Tampa Five Star
- Tampa X-Factor
- Tennessee Trapstars
- Texas Storm
- Toledo Threat
- Toronto Elite 1's
- Toronto Stealth
- Tucson Sol
- USA Elite
- Virginia Lady Stallions
- Virginia Lady Supreme
- Virginia Lady Warriors
- West Coast Lioness
- 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.