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.
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. At least one franchise went on to play in another independent semi-professional league.
Teams
Current TeamCityArenaCapacityJoined Flint Monarchs Flint, Michigan Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center4,4212016 KCrossover Independence, Missouri Kansas City Elite Basketball Academy –2019 St. Louis Surge Clayton, Missouri Mabee Gymnasium3,8002019 Wisconsin Glo Oshkosh, Wisconsin Oshkosh Arena3,5002019
Former TeamCityArenaJoinedLeft Detroit Queens Detroit, Michigan Curtis L. Ivery Center20222023 Indianapolis Bandits Fort Wayne, Indiana Spiece Fieldhouse20182019 Milwaukee Aces Milwaukee, Wisconsin Reiman Gymnasium20162019 Illinois Starletz Chicago, Illinois Detroit Dodgers Detroit, Michigan Chicago Breeze Chicago, Illinois Akron Innovators Akron, Ohio
Champions GameDateWinning teamLosing teamSiteNotes2016August 20, 2016Flint Monarchs99Akron Innovators52Ballenger Fieldhouse2017August 19, 2017Flint Monarchs83Milwaukee Aces68Reiman Gymnasium2018August 25, 2018Flint Monarchs107Indianapolis Bandits69Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center2019August 11, 2019Wisconsin Glo80Flint Monarchs78Menominee Nation Arena2020Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic2021August 15, 2021Wisconsin Glo93St. Louis Surge77Mabee Gymnasium2022August 7, 2022Flint Monarchs72Wisconsin Glo70Oshkosh Arena2023August 6, 2023Wisconsin Glo104Flint Monarchs97Oshkosh Arena
References