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Women Entrepreneurs Set to Launch Men's Pro Basketball Team

January 28, 2006 - World Basketball Association (WBA)
Marietta Storm News Release


On Thursday February 2, 2006, Metro Atlanta's newest professional sports team will be introduced at Marietta's Life University. JUSTT Us, LLC - the ownership group comprised of 4 females and 1 male - will introduce the Marietta Storm, an expansion team of the World Basketball Association (www.wbaball.net) at a press conference scheduled for 11am at Life's Eagle Nest gymnasium.

The World Basketball Association (WBA) was founded in 2003. Its mission is to teach, develop, and expose basketball players to NBA, NBDL, CBA, and International Scouts while providing each community an exciting brand of basketball and entertainment. The purpose of the WBA is to serve as a developmental training ground for professional players, coaches, and personnel on and off the court. Critical focus is placed on fundamental development, career development, community involvement, and education.

The Marietta Storm (www.mariettastorm.com) will be the only professional sports team in Atlanta - and one of the few in America - predominantly owned by women. "As entrepreneurs, we are always looking for good opportunities," says team co-owner Jennifer Lester. "When the chance to own a sports team presented itself, we had to jump on it. Not only did it seem like a fun thing to do, it also gives us a great opportunity to be involved with the community and further our individual endeavors". The other members of JUSTT Us, LLC are Una Snipe, Stacy Beverly, Tiphanie Watson and Tommy Lester.

The Storm will also use Thursday's press conference to introduce their head coach/general manager Lionel Garrett. Mr. Garrett is very familiar with the WBA, having served as associate head coach for last year's league champion, the Rome Gladiators. He has also played professionally with the LA Clippers and the Harlem Globetrotters. In addition to the WBA, he has coached at the college level for a number of years and was recently inducted into the Ohio High School Hall of Fame.

The Storm will be part of the WBA's Eastern Division, which also includes Griffin, GA; Gainesville, GA; and Anderson, SC. The Central Division is made up of Rome, GA; Cleveland, TN; Murfreesboro, TN; and Tuscaloosa, AL while the Western Division includes teams from Little Rock, AK; Jackson, MS; Biloxi, Ms; and Southaven, MS. The WBA is a spring/summer league with the season running from mid April thru July.

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