The Global Women's Basketball Association (GWBA) is a

women's professional basketball league The Women's Professional Basketball League (abbreviated WBL) was a professional women's basketball league in the United States. The league played three seasons from the fall of 1978 to the spring of 1981. The league was the first professional w ...

operating in the

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region of the

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. The league was founded in 2016 and features four teams. GWBA rosters are 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 James Madison Dukes are the intercollegiate athletics teams that represent James Madison University (JMU), in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The name "Dukes" is derived from Samuel Page Duke, the university's second president. The Dukes play as me ...

. 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 The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

. In 2021, the Music City Icons were replaced by the Detroit Dodgers, who ultimately forfeited the season as they were unable to field a roster. The Surge finished the regular season in first place but were upset by the Glo in the championship.

Teams

Current

Former

Champions

References

{{Basketball-competition-stub Women's basketball leagues in the United States Sports leagues established in 2016 2016 establishments in the United States