Global Women's Basketball Association

Last updated
Global Women's Basketball Association
Sport Basketball
Founded2016
Founder Sonya Nichols
First season2016
Ceased2024
No. of teams4
Country United States
Last
champion(s)		Wisconsin Glo (3rd)
Most titlesFlint Monarchs (4)
Official website https://gwba.us/

The Global Women's Basketball Association(GWBA) was a semi-professional women's professional basketball league operating in the Midwest region of the United States. The league was founded in 2016, and played until 2023. GWBA rosters were composed primarily of former collegiate players, often playing for the team nearest their former school, and former WNBA players.

Contents

History

The league was established in 2016 by Sonya Nichols, a former basketball player for the James Madison Dukes. The inaugural season began with four teams: the Flint Monarchs, Milwaukee Aces, Akron Innovators, and Illinois Starletz. The Monarchs finished the season undefeated and won the league championship. The 2017 season saw teams play eight games instead of seven; the Monarchs again won the championship. Following the 2018 season, which was again won by the Monarchs, the league added two teams: the Wisconsin Glo and St. Louis Surge. The Glo finished their inaugural season undefeated and won the league championship, defeating the three-time defending champions Monarchs. The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the Music City Icons were replaced by the Detroit Dodgers, who finished out the regular season schedule but ultimately left the GWBA to become an independent women's basketball organization. The Surge finished the regular season in first place but were upset by the Glo in the championship.

Folding

Despite announcing the upcoming season schedule in June 2024, the season was abruptly canceled without any further word from the league, which did not respond to requests for comment from local news organizations. Other stations connected the cancellation to the documented financial problems affecting the championship venue, the Oshkosh Arena. [1] At least one franchise went on to play in another independent semi-professional league. [2]

Teams

Current

TeamCityArenaCapacityJoined
Flint Monarchs Flint, Michigan Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center 4,4212016
KCrossover Independence, Missouri Kansas City Elite Basketball Academy –2019
St. Louis Surge Clayton, Missouri Mabee Gymnasium 3,8002019
Wisconsin Glo Oshkosh, Wisconsin Oshkosh Arena [3] 3,5002019

Former

TeamCityArenaJoinedLeft
Detroit Queens Detroit, Michigan Curtis L. Ivery Center 20222023
Indianapolis Bandits Fort Wayne, Indiana Spiece Fieldhouse [4] 20182019
Milwaukee Aces Milwaukee, Wisconsin Reiman Gymnasium 20162019
Illinois Starletz Chicago, Illinois
Detroit Dodgers Detroit, Michigan
Chicago Breeze Chicago, Illinois
Akron Innovators Akron, Ohio

Champions

GameDateWinning teamLosing teamSiteNotes
2016August 20, 2016Flint Monarchs99Akron Innovators52 Ballenger Fieldhouse [5]
2017August 19, 2017Flint Monarchs83Milwaukee Aces68 Reiman Gymnasium [6]
2018August 25, 2018Flint Monarchs107Indianapolis Bandits69 Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center [7]
2019August 11, 2019Wisconsin Glo80Flint Monarchs78 Menominee Nation Arena [8]
2020Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021August 15, 2021Wisconsin Glo93St. Louis Surge77 Mabee Gymnasium [9]
2022August 7, 2022Flint Monarchs72Wisconsin Glo70Oshkosh Arena [10]
2023August 6, 2023Wisconsin Glo104Flint Monarchs97Oshkosh Arena [11] First overtime championship.

References

  1. ↑ Kerhin, Brian (2024-06-07). "GLO women's basketball season canceled as financial troubles for Oshkosh Arena mount". WLUK. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  2. ↑ Marville, Justin. "Women's basketball team Wisconsin Glo switching leagues for 2024". Oshkosh Northwestern. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  3. ↑ "Wisconsin GLO drums up drama with slow reveal of roster -- a who's who of the state's women's basketball stars".
  4. ↑ Bandits, Indianapolis. "Last Regular Season Game! Spiece Fieldhouse in Fort Wayne, IN. #IndyBandits". Instagram. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  5. ↑ Woodyard, Eric (2016-08-25). "Flint Monarchs crowned GWBA national champs, Arlesia Morse named Finals MVP". mlive. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  6. ↑ Woodyard, Eric (2017-08-21). "Former CMU star Crystal Bradford helps Flint Monarchs repeat as GWBA champions". mlive. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  7. ↑ "Flint Monarchs WIN the GWBA 2018 National Championship – GWBA" . Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  8. ↑ Jacobson, Jordan. "Wisconsin Glo tops Flint Monarchs to win Global Women's Basketball Association championship". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  9. ↑ Jacobson, Jordan. "'It was a challenging year': After celebrating title, Wisconsin Glo looks to grow league". Oshkosh Northwestern. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  10. ↑ "News: FLINT WINS SIXTH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, DEFEATS WISCONSIN GLO 72-70 - Flint Monarchs Women's Basketball". www.flintmonarchs.com. 8 August 2022. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  11. ↑ Bailey, Jonathan (2023-08-11). "Brandon native Taylor Wurtz-Purifoy helps Wisconsin GLO capture Global Women's Basketball Association championship". RiponPress.com. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
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