- Yakama Sun Kings
CBA team
color1 = #FDD017
color2 = #151B8D
pixels = 150px
founded = 1990
league = CBA1990 -present
history =Kansas City Sizzlers 1985 -1986
TopekaSizzlers 1986 -1990
Yakima Sun Kings 1990 -2005
Yakama Sun Kings2005 -2008
arena =Yakima SunDome
city = Yakima,Washington
colors = Blue, Gold and White
owner =Yakama Indian Nation
coach =Paul Woolpert
championships = 5 (1995 ,2000 ,2003 ,2006 ,2007 )
titles = 2 (1995 ,2007 )
cheerleaders =
dancers =
mascot = ReboundThe Yakama Sun Kings were aContinental Basketball Association franchise located inYakima, Washington , covering the Central Washington sports market of Yakima, Tri-Cities, and Ellensburg. The Sun Kings played at theYakima SunDome .Originally located in
Kansas City, Missouri , and thenTopeka, Kansas , the franchise moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1990 and was renamed the Yakima Sun Kings. The Sun Kings have been fairly successful historically, given the inconsistent nature of minor-league basketball; they won the 1994-95, 1999-2000, and 2002-03 CBA championships. The Sun Kings had a disappointing 2003-04 season when they posted a 10-38 record. They were also 0-9 against the CBA ChampionDakota Wizards .In June 2005, the team was purchased by the
Yakama Indian Nation, and were renamed the Yakama Sun Kings to honor the Nation.Ronny Turiaf , a 2005 draft pick of theLos Angeles Lakers , played nine games for the Sun Kings in the 2005-06 season, less than six months after undergoing open-heart surgery which caused the Lakers to void his contract. He averaged 13 points in nine games with the team before re-signing with the Lakers in January 2006. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nba&id=2297233 ESPN.com, "Lakers sign F Turiaf"] accessedFebruary 1 ,2005 ]The Sun Kings won their fourth CBA Championship with a 111-101 victory in Game 3 of a best-of-3 finals series against the
Gary Steelheads onMarch 27 ,2006 . [ [http://www.yakimaherald.com/page/dis/285729302468753 Yakima Herald-Republic, "Sun Kings win CBA Title"] ]In 2006-07 the Sun Kings repeated as champions, sweeping the
Albany Patroons three games to none. [ [http://www.yakima-herald.com/page/dis/348195626873875 Yakima Herald-Republic, "Without a doubt - Sun Kings win CBA Title"] ]Although the Yakama Indian Nation announced they had shut down team operations on April 10, 2008, due to the franchise's financial losses, [ [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/2004340144_websunkings10.html Seattle Times, "CBA's Sun Kings Fold"] ] potential investors continue to meet with the team's owners in order to keep the team afloat. [ [http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/3898 Yakima Herald-Republic, "CBA -- Potential Sun Kings owners emerge"] ]
References
External links
* [http://www.sunkings.com/ Yakama Sun Kings official website]
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