Bikini Basketball Association
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Most recent season or competition: 2014 Bikini Basketball Association season |
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| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2012 |
| Inaugural season | 2013 |
| CEO | A. J. McArthur |
| Motto | "In a League of its Own" |
| No. of teams | 3 |
| Country |
 United States
|
| Most recent champion(s) |
Illinois Heart |
| Most titles | Illinois Heart (2 titles) |
| Official website | bikinibasketball |
The Bikini Basketball Association (BBA) was an American women's basketball league, created by Cedric Mitchell and A. J. McArthur in 2012. The announcement received wide press coverage with pundits finding it variously funny, offensive, and smart business. Contrary to the name, the players wear sports bras and boy shorts, not bikinis, during games.
The league launched its 2013 season on June 22 with five teams but only three teams completed the abbreviated regular season on August 17. The undefeated Miami Spice claimed the regular season title but fell in the September 21 championship game to the Illinois Heart. The 2014 season began on June 21 with four teams, including the expansion Atlanta Storm, but the Miami Spice forfeited their first game then folded. The remaining three teams completed their abbreviated season on August 23, 2014, with Illinois going undefeated, Houston at 2-2, and Atlanta remaining winless. Illinois defeated Houston in the September 27 championship final to repeat as BBA champs. The league did not play a schedule in 2015.
In September 2012, the league originally announced seven teams with league operations to begin on November 3, 2012, and play to begin in 2013. The originally announced teams were the Atlanta Fleet Angels, Chicago Desire, Hollywood Hotties, Los Angeles Ice, Miami Spice, New York Knockouts, and Orlando LadyCats. In early October, league officials told the press they were seeking to add franchises "in Dallas and Minnesota, plus one more."
In November 2012, the league announced that the Minnesota Mist had joined the league, the Fleet Angels had changed their name to the Atlanta Peaches, and the league would start play in May 2013. In late November 2012, the Chicago Desire franchise was disbanded by the league and replaced by a new franchise, the Chicago Crave. In early January 2013, the league's website dropped mention of the Hollywood Hotties and added a new team called the Illinois Heart.
In mid-January 2013, the Atlanta Peaches announced the signing of Deiondra Sanders, daughter of sports legend and broadcaster Deion Sanders. The Peaches (and Sanders) left the league on March 13, 2013.
When the full BBA website debuted on January 18, 2013, the start date for the league was announced as June 1, 2013, with eight teams: Atlanta Peaches, Chicago Crave, Los Angeles Ice, Miami Spice, Orlando Lady Cats, Minnesota Mist, Illinois Heart, and Philadelphia Diamonds. The newly announced Philadelphia team replaced the previously announced New York Knockouts. By the end of January, both the Chicago Crave and Los Angeles Ice had withdrawn from the league.
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