There’s a new basketball team coming to Grand Rapids!

Owner/CEO William Kelly is bringing the Grand Rapids Galaxy, the first women’s semi-professional basketball team from West Michigan, right here to Beer City, USA in May.

Kelly is looking to expand the area’s interest in women’s basketball past the high school and colleges games and believes there is a market for his team. Kelly has reached an agreement with the DeltaPlex, home of the Grand Rapids Drive, to host the Galaxy for the upcoming 2017 season.

After experiencing setbacks while an account executive with the Kalamazoo Pure, a semi-pro men’s team in the American Basketball Association, Kelly set his sights on becoming a team owner. The Pure team was disbanded in 2016 just days before the ABA championship when owner Rico White abruptly left West Michigan for Las Vegas amid swirling rumors and questions about the authenticity of his organization. At the time, Kelly told Fox17 news they were “told the direction was to become the development team of the [Chicago] Bulls, which you know we found that was just, you know, one of many lies.”

Kelly knows the challenge is an uphill battle, but continues to strive toward making this dream into a successful reality. Co-owner of Joy Consulting and a partner with the WBCBL’s Battle Creek Blazers, Kelly hired Dan Thornton to coach the team. Thornton, a veteran AAU coach and assistant at Kalamazoo College, formerly coached girls basketball at Kalamazoo Central HS.

This past Saturday, Galaxy players, coaches and staff, along with members of the dance team, held a meet and greet for fans at Polished Nail & Spa, 4301 Kalamazoo SE, from 1-3 p.m. There was even a dance competition between players Dakiya Johnson and Jamilya Hardley, two of the Galaxy Girls dance team, and a group of young fans.

“It was great to see a group of ladies all different ages, sizes and races come together and have a great time. This is just a small display of what we are about by providing positive female role models in the community.” -Galaxy Facebook post.

Tryouts took place in June of 2016 at the Courthouse Athletic Center in Byron Center, MI. Players must be over 18 years old with two years of college playing experience preferred. Transportation, meals and insurance will all be provided on game days for players.

The 2017 season will run from April to August with the Galaxy open their schedule on May 6, 2017 on the road against the Detroit Dodgers. The home schedule opens June 4, 2017 when the Dodgers come to town. The game starts at 3 p.m. and doors open at 2 p.m.

Tickets will start at $10 for General Admission. Courtside seats are $20 and Suite table packages for six people are $210 ($260 with food packages).