NBA cheerleading

Last updated October 01, 2025

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league with teams in the United States and Canada. Nearly every team, with one exception, has a squad of dancers for cheerleading that are usually involved in dancing, charity work, fundraisers, and modeling.^[1] Recently, some NBA teams have expanded their previously all-girl teams to be more inclusive as part of efforts to appeal to a broader and rapidly growing audience.

Teams

NBA Team	Name
Atlanta Hawks	A-Town Dancers^[2]
Boston Celtics	Celtics Dancers and Green Team^[3]
Brooklyn Nets	Brooklynettes^[4]
Charlotte Hornets	Charlotte Honey Bees ^[5]
Chicago Bulls	Chicago Luvabulls^[6] and Chicago Incredibulls
Cleveland Cavaliers	Cavs PowerHouse Dance Team^[7]
Dallas Mavericks	D-Town Crew (formerly Mavs Dancers)^[8]
Denver Nuggets	Nuggets Dancers^[9]
Detroit Pistons	Automotion^[10]
Golden State Warriors	Warrior Girls ^[11]
Houston Rockets	Clutch City Dancers^[12]
Indiana Pacers	Pacemates^[13]
Los Angeles Clippers	Spirit Dance Team^[14]
Los Angeles Lakers	Laker Girls ^[15]
Memphis Grizzlies	Grizz Girls^[16]
Miami Heat	HEAT Dancers^[17]
Milwaukee Bucks	Energee^[18]
Minnesota Timberwolves	Timberwolves Dance Team^[1]
New Orleans Pelicans	Pelicans Dance Team^[19]
New York Knicks	Knicks City Dancers^[20]
Oklahoma City Thunder	Thunder Girls^[21]
Orlando Magic	Magic Dancers^[22]
Philadelphia 76ers	Sixers Dancers^[23]
Phoenix Suns	Suns Dancers^[24]
Portland Trail Blazers	Blazer Dancers^[25] and Blazers Stunt Team^[26]
Sacramento Kings	Kings Royal Court Dancers^[27]
Toronto Raptors	North Side Crew (formerly Dance Pak)^[28]
Utah Jazz	Jazz Dancers^[29]
Washington Wizards	Wizards Dancers^[30]

The only team currently without traditional NBA dancers is the San Antonio Spurs.^[31] Until 2018, they had a dance squad called the Silver Dancers.

Notable NBA cheerleaders

Atlanta Hawks

Deneen Graham (1994) – Miss North Carolina 1983
Kaylin Reque (2008–11) – Miss Georgia USA 2011
Laurie Flynn – wife of Matt Schaub

Boston Celtics

Michelle Leonardo (2013–present) – Miss New Jersey USA 2012

Brooklyn Nets

Melissa Becraft (2017–present) – dancer, TikToker
Cassie Yeung (2016–2018) – Chef, TikToker

Chicago Bulls

Shanon Lersch (2004–09) – Miss Illinois USA 2008
Ashley Bond (2007–13) – Miss Illinois USA 2009

Maya Hayes (1996–1999) – dancer and choreographer Currently the Founder and President of the National Basketball Dancer Alumni Club est. 2023. She also served as the game day entertainment coordinator and choreographer for the Jr. Basketball League under the direction of Mr. LaVar Ball.

Dallas Mavericks

Cindy Villarreal (1989–90) – choreographer
Kandi Harris (2004–05) – wife of Hunter Mahan ^[32]
Jill Marie Jones – actress, Toni on Girlfriends
Maya Hayes (2007–2009) – dancer and choreographer Currently the Founder and President of the National Basketball Dancer Alumni Club est. 2023. She also served as the game day entertainment coordinator and choreographer for the Jr. Basketball League under the direction of Mr. LaVar Ball.

Denver Nuggets

Lindsey Kovacevich (2005–07) – anchor and reporter of KVAL-TV

Detroit Pistons

Cassandra Ferguson – contestant on The Bachelor season 18
Heather Zara – traffic reporter of WDIV-TV

Golden State Warriors

Bonnie-Jill Laflin (1992–94) – model, actress, television personality

Houston Rockets

Natalie Alvarado (1997–2004) – singer and dance team director of the Minnesota Timberwolves
Casey Potter (2016–2018) – director of the Houston Texans Cheerleaders

Indiana Pacers

Angela Sparrow (2006–07) – Miss Illinois USA 2011
Jocelyn Peck (2013–present) – wife of Stanley Havili

Los Angeles Clippers

Eve Torres (2006–07) – wrestler
Jocelyn Peck (2010–12) – wife of Stanley Havili

Los Angeles Lakers

Paula Abdul (1980s) – singer, dancer, choreographer, television personality
Tina Landon (1980s) – dancer, choreographer
Emily Harper (2000–03) – actress
Cindy Leos (2000–01) – dancer, choreographer, celebrity trainer
Sandra Colton (2002–03) – dancer, author
Taylour Paige (2010) – dancer, actress
Leah Van Dale (2010–11) – WWE wrestler
Natasha Martinez (2011–12) – Miss California USA 2015
Moon Bloodgood – model, actress
Vanessa Curry – singer

Memphis Grizzlies

Stacey Tookey – dancer, choreographer

Miami Heat

Jessica Sutta (1999–2002) – singer, dancer, actress, member of the pop girl group The Pussycat Dolls
Trista Rehn (2000–02) – contestant on The Bachelor season 1
Jenni Croft (2005–06) – contestant on The Bachelor season 11
Layla El (2004–06) – model, dancer, actress, wrestler
Hennely Jimenez (2006–07) – Actress, starred in the film 200 mph
Kristina Akra – reporter for Fox Sports South
Traci Young-Byron – (8 Year Vet) MTV's America's Best Dance Crew Season 3 Lifetime's Bring it Set it up

Milwaukee Bucks

Tanya Fischer (2003–04) – Actress of The Defenders
Bishara Dorre (2008–11) – Miss Wisconsin USA 2014

Minnesota Timberwolves

Brittany Thelemann – Miss Minnesota USA 2011

New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets

Denise Garvey (1999–2000) – former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, former New York Knicks dancer, director of the New York Jets Flight Crew
Keltie Knight(2003–05) – Television entertainment reporter

New Orleans Hornets

Dawn Richard – singer, dancer, former member of Danity Kane

New York Knicks

Heather Van Arsdel (1998–2005) – WPTZ news anchor
Denise Garvey (2001–05) – former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, former New Jersey Nets dancer, director of the New York Jets Flight Crew
Asia Nitollano (2006–07) – singer, dancer, former Pussycat Doll
Amanda Grace (2008) – director of the New Jersey Devils Ice Dancers
Sarah Mitchell – dancer, actress
Sydney Lotuaco (2015–18) – Contestant of The Bachelor season 23

Oklahoma City Thunder

Kimberly Sullivan (2008–09) – contestant on The Bachelor season 14
Ali Dudek – singer (during the team's Seattle days)^[33]

Orlando Magic

Megan Clementi (2003–08) – Miss Florida USA 2010
Trinity McCray – WWE wrestler
Sandy Fox (1988–91) – Voice actress

Philadelphia 76ers

Amber-Joi Watkins (2005–07) – Miss Pennsylvania USA 2011

Phoenix Suns

Brittany Bell (2006–09) – Miss Arizona USA 2010
Jenni Croft (2006–09) – contestant on The Bachelor season 11
Kat Hurd (2013–present) – contestant on The Bachelor season 18
Tiffany Dunn – singer

Portland Trail Blazers

Caysie Torrey (1997–98) – dancer, actress, clothing model
Shannon Bex (1999–2004) – singer, dancer, former member of Danity Kane

Sacramento Kings

Vanessa Born (2001–03) – actress and dancer
Aubrey Aquino – TV reporter and host^[34]

Toronto Raptors

Nicole Arbour – YouTube comedian and provocateur
Nikki Grant (2007–09) – actress

Utah Jazz

Tiffany Coyne (2000–02) – Co-host and model on Let's Make a Deal on CBS
Jocelyn Peck (2007–10) – wife of Stanley Havili
Jessica Sanchez – morning traffic reporter of WKMG-TV

References

External links

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[autogenerated1-1] 1 2 NBA Dance Teams, I Love This Game, Manlyweb.com

[2] Atlanta Hawks Dance Team | Main Page | THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE ATLANTA HAWKS

[3] Game Night Entertainment | Celtics.com - The official website of the Boston Celtics

[4] Brooklynettes

[5] Honeybees

[6] Chicago Luvabulls | THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE CHICAGO BULLS

[7] "PowerHouse 2019-20". Cleveland Cavaliers. Retrieved 2020-02-26.

[8] vericks dancers | THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE DALLAS MAVERICKS

[9] NUGGETS: 2009–10 Nuggets Dancers

[10] Automotion | The Official Site Of The Detroit Pistons

[11] WARRIORS: Warrior Girls 2005–06

[12] ROCKETS: Clutch City Dancers

[13] Pacemates Home | The Official Site Of The Indiana Pacers

[14] CLIPPERS: Los Angeles Clippers Spirit Dance Team

[15] Meet the 2005–06 Laker Girls | THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS

[16] "The Memphis Grizz Girls". NBA.com .

[17] HEAT: Miami HEAT Dancers

[18] BUCKS: Energee!

[19] Pelicans Dance Team

[20] Knicks City Dancers – Home

[21] Oklahoma City Thunder | Thunder Girls

[22] MAGIC: 2011–12 Orlando Magic Dancers

[23] SIXERS: 2011–12 Sixers Dancers

[24] SUNS: Phoenix Suns Dance Team

[25] BLAZERS: Blazer Dancers

[26] ↑

[27] KINGS: Kings Royal Court Dancers

[28] RAPTORS: 2005–06 Raptors Dance Pak!

[29] Jazz: Dance | The Official Site Of The Utah Jazz

[30] WIZARDS: | Wizards Dancers | Washington Wizards

[31] "San Antonio Spurs Silver Dancers upset over decision to disband squad for 'family friendly' co-ed 'hype team'". Fox News . 23 May 2018.

[32] Up & Down: It's good to be Hunter ... Mahan, that is - Golf, PGA Tour - CBSSports.com PGA, News, Leaderboard Scores, Schedule and Stats

[33] "Ali Dee - Home". Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2010-07-06.

[34] Aubrey Up Close

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