Steel City Yellow Jackets

The Steel City Yellow Jackets are a basketball team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team is a member of the American Basketball Association. They play their home games at the A Giving Heart Community Center.

Steel City Yellow Jackets
Founded2014
LeagueABA
Based inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
ArenaA Giving Heart Community Center
ColorsBlack, gold
Head coachAverill D. Pippens
Championships1 (2022)
Division titles2
CheerleadersSteel City HoneyBees
MascotBuzz the Bee

The Yellow Jackets began play on November 8, 2014 as an expansion team competing in the ABA Northeast Division. The Yellow Jackets played all of their first season home games at the Community College of Allegheny County Allegheny Campus, which is located on Pittsburgh's North Shore, directly behind Heinz Field. The Steel City Yellow Jackets were originally owned by national recording Hip hop artist Antjuan "Tjuan Benafactor" Washington and Averill 'Ace' Pippens, who also serves as the team's general manager and head coach.[1] Pippens, also known as "Coach Ace", was the assistant coach at Pittsburgh's David B. Oliver High School before becoming assistant, and eventually head coach, of the Penn State McKeesport men's basketball team. Pippens' led Penn State McKeesport to a championship title in 2006.

After winning the ABA Northeast Division the Yellow Jackets hosted the two-day division playoff.[2] A semifinal victory over Staten Island Vipers put Steel City in the division championship where they lost 106-105 to the Philadelphia Spirit.[3][4]

In 2022, the Yellow Jackets won their first ABA national championship by defeating Team Trouble 123-118.[5]

Season-by-season
Season W L Result Playoffs
2014-15 12 5 1st Northeast Lost Division Final to Philadelphia Spirit
2015-16 15 9 3rd Chesapeake Lost Division Quarterfinal to Windy City Groove
2016-17 18 5 2nd Chesapeake Lost Division Semifinal to West Michigan Lake Hawks
2017-18 19 4 1st Chesapeake Lost Division Quarterfinal to Jacksonville Giants

References
  1. "Steel City Yellow Jackets of ABA not paid, play for love of game". TribLIVE. 6 December 2014.
  2. "Steel City Yellow Jackets honored by city council, ready to make noise in playoffs". Pittsburgh Sporting News. 10 March 2015.
  3. "Novak to play professional basketball in Portugal". TribLIVE. 4 August 2015.
  4. "Yellow Jackets season ends with final second loss to Philadelphia Spirit 106-They moved to the GreenTree SportsPlex". Pittsburgh Sporting News. 15 March 2015.
  5. "Steel City Yellow Jackets are ABA champions with 123-118 win over Team Trouble".
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