Entering its season opener Saturday night, the St. Louis Surge women’s professional basketball franchise have highly-charged aspirations.
Photo Credit: Mick Lite Photography
The Surge, the 2014 Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League (WBCBL) National Champions, plays the Missouri Arch Angels at Harris Stowe University (3026 Laclede Ave., St. Louis, MO) at 7 p.m.
Last season, St. Louis reached the WBCBL’s season-ending trophy finale but finished as runner-up. Thus, the quest to reclaim its title as queens of the hard court begins with Saturday’s showdown.
Half of the Surge roster this season is new but the returning players, which include a quartet that averaged double digits last year, are primed to pick up where they left off.
Guard Rebecca Harris (17.8 PPG), forward Jaleesa Butler (14.3), guard Leah Cotton (13.2) and post player Raven Berry (10.0) are back in the fold while both Bianca Beck (6.8) and Cassie Rochel (5.9) provides both quality points and defense in supporting roles.
Photo Credit: Mick Lite Photography
That veteran sextet is solid from the onset but the Surge newcomers also aim to impress and each contains impressive hoops portfolios.
Six-foot forward Shanity James was the leading scorer and rebounder last season for University of Arkansas–Little Rock (15.6 PPG, 6.8 RPG). The prep standout from St. Louis’ Miller Career Academy finished her collegiate career with 1,384 total points. In her senior season, James was named to both the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Team and the All-Sun Belt First Team.
Post player Michala Johnson averaged 12.2 points per game at University of Madison-Wisconsin last season. While nursing a torn ACL during the Badgers’ 2014-15 campaign, the 6-4 powerhouse was selected in the third round of the2015 WNBA draft by the New York Liberty. After receiving a medical red shirt by the NCAA, she returned to Wisconsin to finish her final her of collegiate eligibility.
Guard Jenny Rocha cracked numerous career Top 10’s lists at Lindenwood University during her 2015-16 senior campaign. The 5-4 O’Fallon, Missouri native averaged 11.4 points in her four seasons with the Lady Lions. Rocha earned Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) honors in both her junior and senior seasons.
Brittany Wilson, a 5-10 guard from La Salle University, averaged 18.3 points during the Explorers’ 2012-13 campaign. Prior to her senior year, she was named to both the Atlantic 10 Preseason First Team and All-Defensive Team. A late-season injury cut her collegiate career short, yet Wilson still collected 1,476 career points culled from her respective two-year stints at La Salle and Northeastern University.
Denisha Womack started all 34 games last season for St. Louis University, who finished 26-8. As a member of the Lady Bills for four years, the 6-1 forward averaged 6.5 points per game last season and paced the team in defensive rebounds and free throw percentage.
Finally, Tori Waldner, a 6-5 center, played collegiate hoops at Penn State for four years. As a starter in 26 of 30 games for the Nittany Lions last season, she averaged over five points and five rebounds per contest. Was a nominee to the 2011 McDonald’s All-American Team.
With its mix of seasoned veterans and talented additions, the Surge seeks to repeat as champions of the WBCBL’s six-team Mid-West Region, make a push into the governing body’s post-season tourney and claim its second national trophy.
Saturday’s opponent, Missouri Arch Angels, finished 3-7 last year but approaches the upcoming campaign with newfound vigor. Both Mia Wesley and Suzie Grossnickle each averaged double-digits last season and with a complexion of returnees and local additions, the hostesses look to record an early WBCBL upset.
Photo Credit: Mick Lite Photography
The Surge’s ten-game WBCBL regular season docket finds its first five games on the opposition’s court. Saturday’s game against Missouri Arch Angels at Harris Stowe is considered somewhat local as it’s held within St. Louis City limits and Surge fans can easily attend.
The next four games, however, are considered true road trips and all will be challenging. The road trek continues with stops at division rivals Nebraska and Iowa. Then on May 22, the Surge faces Flyers Elite, who are new to the WBCBL Mid-West but not new to the locals.
Photo Credit: Mick Lite Photography
Flyers Elite is the franchise formally known as the Auburn Flyers, the WBCBL 2013 National Champions. The Flyers were topped by St. Louis in the 2014 WBCBL title game and saw its historical 31-game winning streak snapped. Last season, the Flyers were bested by the Surge in the 2015 WBCBL Champs semifinals and finished third overall. During the off-season, the team relocated to Elsberry, Missouri.
Following a road game against divisional rival Kansas City, the Surge hosts five WBCBL-sanctioned games beginning in June at the Mark Twain Building on UMSL’s campus. Rematches against Nebraska, Iowa, Flyers Elite and Kansas City are on the ledger as well as a first-time contest against WBCBL Northeast competitor Cleveland.
But that’s a long way away. Right now, the Surge’s mindset is to claim its first win of the season this Saturday night and ignite sparks for future achievement and advancement.
For information on Surge Basketball, go to stlsurgebasketball.com.
2016 ST. LOUIS SURGE SCHEDULE
SAT 5/7 AT MISSOURI ARCH ANGELS (HARRIS STOWE)
SAT 5/14 AT NEBRASKA (AWAY)
SAT 5/21 AT IOWA FORCE (AWAY)
SUN 5/22 AT FLYERS ELITE (AWAY)
SAT 6/4 AT KANSAS CITY (AWAY)
SAT 6/11 VS. NEBRASKA (HOME)
SAT 6/18 VS. IOWA FORCE (HOME)
SAT 6/25 VS. FLYERS ELITE (HOME)
SAT 7/9 VS. CLEVELAND (HOME)
SAT 7/16 VS. KANSAS CITY (HOME)
By trade, he is a six-time, regional Emmy Award-winning news videographer/editor for KTVI/KPLR-TV. By hobby, he is a writer for Arch City Media, dating back to February 2014. Emphasis is on featuring and promoting local women's sports, but will cover anything that is not reported by traditional media outlets. Also a contributor to local concert reviews.
