Yakama Nation shuts down basketball team

Friday, April 11, 2008  

The Yakama Nation of Washington shut down its professional basketball team on Thursday.

The tribe bought the Yakima Sun Kings in 2005. The team was renamed the Yakama Sun Kings and went on to win two championships.

But some tribal members questioned the purchase and called a vote in 2006 to end ownership. The general council, which represents the entire membership, agreed to keep the team.

This time around, the tribal council voted to terminate the team. Virgil Lewis, a former tribal council member who was ousted for supporting the original purchase, said the tribe owed the team one more season.

Get the Story:
"This hurts" -- Tribe puts an abrupt end to pro basketball in Yakima (The Yakima Herald-Republic 4/11)
Team's departure takes away piece of town's identity (The Yakima Herald-Republic 4/11)
Fans React To Losing Sun Kings (KEPR 4/10)

Related Stories:
Yakama Nation votes to keep basketball team (2/10)
Yakama Nation debates future of basketball team (2/9)
Two tribes are first to enter basketball business (11/21)
Yakama Nation's basketball team unveils new logo (09/23)
Probe of Yakama Nation finances finds problems (09/08)
Yakama Nation leaders keep basketball team alive (08/19)
Yakama Nation sees backlash over purchase of team (08/11)
Yakama Nation buys minor league basketball team (06/24)