Amen-Ra A, once a passionate basketball player in Mexico, channeled her experience into establishing a basketball league based in Oakland that nurtures young women aspiring to reach the WNBA. This initiative offers players a platform to develop skills and gain competitive experience, helping them advance toward their professional goals.
The WNBA is preparing to begin its 2026 training camp in approximately two months, with the official season launch scheduled for May. Shortly after, the Women’s Premier Basketball Association (WPBA), founded by Amen-Ra A in Oakland, will also kick off its season in the Bay Area.
Creating Opportunities Beyond the Game
The WPBA serves not only as a developmental ground for athletes but also provides coaches and sponsors a chance to refine talent and expand business opportunities. This ecosystem contributes to building stronger careers for players and facilitates economic growth in the local sports community.
Chad Lindstrom, senior marketing director at Baden Sports, expressed his enthusiasm for the league after a single discussion with Amen-Ra A. He noted that as the league broadens its reach across the Bay Area, it amplifies exposure for Baden’s basketball brand, creating reciprocal benefits as their products gain greater use.
“After one Zoom call talking about her league and her vision for her league, I was hooked,”
said Chad Lindstrom, senior marketing director for Baden Sports.
“The wider she grows that net, especially in the Bay Area, the more our brand name, Baden, is gonna get out there and we’re gonna get that return back as our basketballs get played with more and more.”
Building Lasting Wealth and Role Models in Communities of Color
Beyond the immediate sports landscape, Amen-Ra A’s work addresses systemic issues by aiming to generate trans-generational wealth within Black and Brown communities. This initiative is seen as critical for cultivating positive role models and expanding opportunities beyond professional athletics.
Sean Allen, president of the Silicon Valley–San Jose branch of the NAACP, emphasized the importance of representation and ownership in sports enterprises. He highlighted that most professional sports organizations remain predominantly owned by white men, making Amen-Ra A’s leadership as a woman of color especially impactful.
“We need positive role models in our culture and in our communities,”
said Sean Allen, president of the Silicon Valley–San Jose NAACP branch.
“And when we see something like this established in our community by someone who is a woman of colour, it definitely impacts our youth and gives them that they can do it too,
Allen said.
Anything’s possible. We just need those examples like everyone else has.”
Looking Ahead to the Upcoming Seasons
The WNBA season is set to launch in May, signaling exciting times for women’s basketball nationwide. Following closely, the WPBA will begin its season in the Bay Area, allowing new talents to showcase and hone their skills in a competitive environment.
Amen-Ra A remains optimistic yet aware of the challenges still present in women’s sports.
“I’m incredibly appreciative of where women’s sports is right now, but there’s still a lot more work to be done,”
she said.
Milestone for Bay Area Women’s Basketball
In a related development, the Golden State Valkyries made a historic debut in the WNBA at the Chase Center, marking a significant moment for the league’s expansion and the region’s visibility in professional women’s basketball.
