Indy’s Finest, a local franchise of the new Women’s American Basketball Association, will be participating in the league’s first official season this March, 2012.  The WABA is a professional basketball league expanded from the historical American Basketball Association and will launch an abbreviated season to kick-off the women’s league. 

The original ABA was founded in 1967, competing with the well-established National Basketball Association, until the ABA-NBA merger in 1976. Ultimately, four ABA teams were absorbed into the older league: the New York Nets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs. 

The ABA resumed play in 2000, distinguishing itself from its older counterpart with a more wide-open, flashy style of offensive play, as well as differences in rules (3-D rule).  The ABA adopted, and still uses today, a colorful red, white and blue ball instead of the NBA’s traditional orange ball.

With the WABA coming to Indianapolis for the inaugural season in March, Coach Denise McClanahan has been hired to head coach the first WABA team for the state of Indiana.  Coach Mac is a passionate, high energy coach who loves teaching the game of basketball.

She is a former varsity high school basketball coach with twenty three years of experience.  Over the past twenty five years she has been busy coaching numerous statewide AAU teams for her own association Lady Mac, Indiana’s Finest and her current club- Indiana Elite.  Her teams have played in many state title games capturing 6 AAU state championships, numerous Top 16 National Championship finishes and one National Championship in 2002.  Her 2002 Indiana Finest Blackcat’s team consisted of seven Big Ten Players, Katie Gearlds of the WNBA and Sharika Webb-Purdue University, Candace Dark Ohio State University, Bridget Branson and Carrie Smith-Indiana University, Receina Russell and Suntana Granderson Penn State.  With her vast experience and contacts across the State of Indiana in women’s basketball she is a perfect selection. 

Coach Mac would like to invite players who are interested in try-out for the Indy’s Finest WABA team to attend a tryout Sunday, January 29, 2012 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at Southport Middle School located at 5715 S. Keystone Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46227.

Current Teams participating in WABA: Indy’s Finest (IN), Chicago Lady Steam (IL), Ohio Hidden Gems (OH), Atlanta Glory (GA), Columbus Lady River Ballers (GA), Staten Island Vipers (NY), Seattle Lady Mountaineers (WA), EC Trojans (NC), So Cal Swish (CA), Little Rock Lightening (AK), Nashville Soul (TN)

Possible Franchisees soon to come: Fayetteville (GA), Chicago, IL (Fury – current ABA travel team), West Virginia and some interest in Cleveland (OH)

For more information check out Indy’s Finest:  www.indyfine.com, WABA: www.wabalive.com  or the ABA:  www.abalive.com