Basketball has long been a source of pride in Indian Country and two tribes have turned that passion into business.

The Yakama Nation of Washington became the first tribe to own a minor league team with the recent purchase of the Sun Kings. The purchase sparked controversy within the tribe but some see it as a positive development. The team just signed Richard Dionne, a Sioux from the Fort Belknap Tribes of Montana.

The Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut became the first tribe to join the WNBA with the purchase of a team in 2003. The Connecticut Suns now boasts an impressive record and the home games are usually sold out. The WNBA has had one Indian player -- Ryneldi Becenti, a Navajo from Arizona.

Get the Story:
Tribes' Basketball Passion Turns Into Business (The New York Times 11/21)
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