Saginaw Soul Basketball Team Set to Thrill Fans this November

SAGINAW, Mich. (WJRT) – A new chapter in Saginaw’s sports scene is set to begin as the Saginaw Soul is officially announced as the latest team in the Basketball Super League (BSL). This exciting development brings professional basketball back to Saginaw, with the inaugural season slated to kick off in November 2025.

Team owners Kelly and Joe Garety, both with deep roots in Mid-Michigan, expressed their enthusiasm for the impact this new team can have on the local community. “Saginaw has a ton of talent, and when I posted it in the Facebook group, I saw that someone had said that this would be a light in Saginaw,” Kelly Garety said. “And from there, it was just no other option; Saginaw was where this was going to be.”

The BSL, which competes across the US and Canada, aims to expand its roster to 24 teams in coming years. Currently, the Saginaw Soul is the ninth team to join the league. BSL President David Magley highlighted the organization’s mission to foster personal connections and community development. “If we do this the right way, we can teach our guys how to impact the whole community,” Magley said.

Isaiah “Zeke” Thomas, appointed as head coach, is also committed to using the team’s platform for community empowerment. “Our success and our prowess trickles down to the youth. Because right now, I’m still coaching the fifth-grade basketball team,” he noted, emphasizing the connection between the team and local youth.

Markell Bradshaw, a point guard for the Soul, voiced his excitement for this opportunity. “My hoop career, I thought I was hanging the shoes up,” Bradshaw said. “I ended up seeing the post and I reached out, and Miss Kelly – we teamed up and it put everything in motion.” Bradshaw previously won a state title with Saginaw High School in 2012, cherishing the opportunity to play professionally in his hometown.

Now, the Soul is working to secure a home court, currently discussing partnerships with the Dow Event Center and other local venues. The team is still in the process of recruiting players and encourages interested athletes to reach out via their Facebook and Instagram pages. Saginaw basketball fans are eagerly anticipating the Soul’s debut season in the BSL.

As anticipation builds, community members are excited about the potential for the Saginaw Soul to engage local residents and provide a source of pride and entertainment. The BSL season will run from November through April, promising thrills and competitive basketball for audiences in Saginaw and Mid-Michigan.