Steel City Yellow Jackets Explained

Founded:2014
League:ABA
Arena:A Giving Heart Community Center
City:Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Colors:Black, gold
Coach:Averill D. Pippens
Championships:1 (2022)
Titles:2 (2018, 2019)
Cheerleaders:Steel City HoneyBees
Mascot:Buzz the Bee

The Steel City Yellow Jackets are a basketball team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team is a member of the American Basketball Association. They play their home games at A Giving Heart Community Center.

History

The Yellow Jackets began play on November 8, 2014 as an expansion team competing in the ABA's Northeast Division. The Yellow Jackets played all of their first season home games at the Community College of Allegheny County Allegheny Campus, which is located on Pittsburgh's North Shore, directly behind Heinz Field.

The Steel City Yellow Jackets were originally owned by national recording Hip hop artist Antjuan "Tjuan Benafactor" Washington and Averill 'Ace' Pippens, who also serves as the team's general manager and head coach.[1] Pippens, also known as "Coach Ace", was the assistant coach at Pittsburgh's David B. Oliver High School before becoming assistant, and eventually head coach, of the Penn State McKeesport men's basketball team. Pippens' led Penn State McKeesport to a championship title in 2006.

In 2022, the Yellow Jackets won their first ABA national championship by defeating Team Trouble 123-118.[2]

In August 2023, the team announced it would not participate in the 2023 - 24 ABA season after Averill Pippens was named head coach of Westinghouse High School.[3] Gilmore Cummings and other veteran players from the team attempted to play that season as the Pennsylvania Starz, but were thrown out of the ABA after infringing on the Yellow Jackets' territorial rights by staging a game within Pittsburgh city limits.[4]

Season-by-season

SeasonWLResultPlayoffs
2014-15942nd in NortheastLost Division Final to Philadelphia Spirit
2015-16644th in South CentralLost Division Quarterfinal to Windy City Groove
2016-171192nd in ChesapeakeLost Division Semifinal to West Michigan Lake Hawks
2017-181721st in North CentralLost Division Quarterfinal to Jacksonville Giants
2018-191621st in Mid-AtlanticLost Division Quarterfinal to Jacksonville Giants
2019-201633rd North CentralNo playoffs held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020-211534th in ABALost Division Final to Jacksonville Giants
2021-2215211th in ABAWon ABA Championship, defeating Team Trouble
2022-2314210th in ABALost Division Quarterfinal to Burning River Buckets
2023–24Did not play

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Steel City Yellow Jackets of ABA not paid, play for love of game. 6 December 2014. TribLIVE.
  2. Web site: Steel City Yellow Jackets are ABA champions with 123-118 win over Team Trouble .
  3. Web site: Facebook . Facebook . November 11, 2023.
  4. Web site: Leturgey . Thomas . Local ABA basketball landscape is a convoluted mess . New Pittsburgh Courier . December 4, 2023 . March 12, 2024.