The rebirth of the WBCBL Suncoast Region has begun with the hatching of the Central Florida Swans. On August 14th, the Central Florida Swans dialed into their first radio interview to begin building their fanbase and team history. The Swans are the new team on the block and based in Tampa, Florida and have already made two television appearances within the past few weeks.

The Swans’ team owners / visionaries are Ms. Allegra Schell, 2009 New England Basketball Hall of Famer and Coach Travis Wathen, St. Louis, Missouri area native and a former standout (2-sport athlete) at Savanah State University.

Having seen how the St. Louis Surge has done in the league and the timing for women's basketball in Florida, Coach Travis decided to create the Swans and start getting the ball rolling in a hurry by signing Alisha Collins to the Central Florida Swans. Collins played at Southeastern University (2012-2013) and is the daughter of Sherod Keeton (Barry University) and former NFL Pro, Tony Collins.

We’re excited and looking forward to bringing women’s professional basketball to back Central Florida and giving our ladies the opportunity to play in the WBCBL.

- Coach Travis Wathen
"GO Swans!"

Aya Traore is a 2016 Olympian basketball player for Senegal. The University of Purdue Alum, is a great person and basketball player with an amazing skill-set (There are too many accolades to list).

Aya is also a former member of the Montgomery Dream basketball team of the Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League (WBCBL). The Montgomery Dream is the predecessor to the Flyers Elite.

After her stint in the WBCBL, Traore went on to play for various teams in Ukraine and Spain. The 6’1 forward appeared in five of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio this summer and averaged 24 minutes, 7 points and 2.4 rebounds per contest.

There have been several WBCBL players to play for their national teams, but Aya is the first known WBCBL player to compete in the Olympics.
Aya Traore, you are our Olympic hero!
- Christopher Ray
 
 

2016 WBCBL MVP: Layla Schwarz-McCray (Dallas Diesel)
Season Avg – 24.8 pts, 14.3 rebs, 4.8 blks, 3.5 asts, 2.4 stls.

2016 Defensive Player of the Year: Lacoya Terry (Georgia Soul)

2016 WBCBL All-Stars – 1st Team
Charmaine Bell (Iowa Force)
Dominique Simmons (San Antonio Crusaders)
Hannah Kador (Louisiana Bayou Angels)
Jill Duffey (Dallas Diesel)
Kari Koch-Dowell (Flyers Elite)
Lacoya Terry (Georgia Soul)
Layla Schwarz-McCray (Dallas Diesel)
Rebecca Harris (St. Louis Surge)
Rebecca Kramer (Iowa Force)
Tanisha Smith (Kansas City Majestic)

2016 WBCBL All-Stars – 2nd Team
Amber Cook (Winston-Salem WarCats)
Abria Trice (Conyers Rockets)
Catrina Green (Carolina Lady Rush)
Dominique Hudson (Carolina Lady Rush)
Hasina Muhammad (Flyers Elite)
Leah Cotton (St. Louis Surge)
Nia Torru (San Antonio Crusaders)
Quianna Chaney (Louisiana Bayou Angels)
Reshea Bristol (Nebraska Strikers)
Shaniece Brown (Beaufort Bison)

Honorable Mention
Amber Easter (Virginia Lady Warriors)
Akilah Bethel (Louisiana Bayou Angels)
Ariana Jackson (Conyers Rockets)
Celiscia Conley (Texas Storm)
Chantoya Hawkins (Dallas Diesel)
Chistian Shelton (Gulf Coast Tropics)
Crystal Clary (Virginia Lady Warriors)
Danai Woods (Dallas Crest)
Eboni Fields (Georgia Soul)
Johnquesha Childs (Georgia Stampede)
Kendria Holmes (Charlotte Invasion)
Len'Nique Brown (San Antonio Crusaders)
Lisa Lee (Asheville Lady Jaguars)
Mia West (Missouri Arch Angels)
Regena Jackson (Mississippi Dream)
Ryven Jackson (Arkansas Stingers)
Santana Seay (Conyers Rockets)
Sarah Lyon (South Carolina Storm)
Shamika Singleton (Texas Storm)
Shanity James (St. Louis Surge)
Shenita Gleaves (Tennessee Lady Hornets)
Tiffany Brown (Charlotte Invasion)
Yvonne Turner (Nebraska Strikers)

2016 WBCBL Coach of the Year: Tony Condra (St. Louis Surge)

2016 WBCBL National Tournament MVP: Rebecca Harris (St. Louis Surge)

2016 WBCBL National Champions: St. Louis Surge

2016 Regional Champions
Atlantic Regional Champion: Georgia Soul
Carolinas Regional Champion: Charlotte Invasion
Gulf South Regional Champion: Louisiana Bayou Angels
Mid South Regional Champion: San Antonio Crusaders
Mid West Regional Champion: Flyers Elite
North East Regional Champion: Cleveland Crush
​Smoky Mountains Regional Champion: Conyers Rockets

* Players ranking based on 2016 WBCBL season stats. All-Star selections based on 5-game minimum *