Edmonton Commercial Grads Basketball Team
The Edmonton Grads Basketball Centre organization was formed to pay tribute to the Edmonton Commercial Grads Basketball Teams, which dominated the sport scene in Edmonton from 1915–1940. The Edmonton Grads, a women’s basketball team, are considered the founders of organized basketball in the Edmonton Region. The team travelled the world bringing recognition to Edmonton and Canada while compiling an amazing record of 502 wins against 20 losses. In the process, they successfully defended 17 Canadian Championship titles and won four consecutive gold medals at the Olympics as an exhibition sport. They also captured (and never relinquished) the International Basketball Championships trophy. All of this was achieved at a time when female team sport was a rarity. In their final home game on June 5, 1940, some 6,200 fans filled the Edmonton Gardens. Clearly, they were the toast of Edmonton. This basketball legacy seeded the popularity of the game in Edmonton, which has seen a 15% growth in participation rates over the last five years. This growth has been fed by a strong increase in club basketball, which provides year-round competition and training for sports enthusiasts.
Growth in basketball’s popularity has also been fuelled by the appearance of the NBA in Canada and recent international exposure given to top Canadian NBA players. Additionally, Edmonton now boasts a professional basketball team, the Edmonton Energy, which contributes to rising interest in the sport. However, limited access to basketball facilities and limited numbers of high-level coaches has hampered growth.