Our Mission
We are a communal TEAM of many unified voices that are collectively embraced together on ONE COURT to unite ALL communities through OUR game of basketball. WE are centering our synergy by embracing local and national talent to create real social, economic, and cultural change.
Expansion Overview
In 2022, CEO & President, Ingrid E. Hutt and Neil C. Holmes of the Hutts Group, LLC combined their love for basketball and sports & entertainment with their combined experiences in political and professional sports. After consulting with then Head Coach, Clifford E. Levingston of the Kokomo Bobcats, The Hutts Group, LLC began its conversation and research of The Basketball Leagues mission and opportunity of expansion franchises throughout the United States. The excitement of this new vision and opportunity thus formed the creation of the Basketball Legacy Group, LLC.
Holmes, having ran the former NBA Developmental League in New Mexico as Team President of the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, suggested that the best market for the our newest adventure would be bringing the first African-American majority female owned professional basketball team [back] to the state of New Mexico – this time aligning the goals and synergy of the strategic planning and brand marketing with community outreach work of The Hutts Group, LLC based out of Los Angeles, California to the state that has not had a professional sports franchise in over 12 years. The Basketball Legacy Group, LLC was able to present our vision for why this team will be the best fit right now/here in New Mexico to the Santa Ana Pueblo. This, in fact, was in line with their current business aspirations of growth through their enterprise, Tamaya Enterprises, Inc.
With the innovative and collaborative embrace of how to expand the Pueblo’s business outreach, they signed on as a minority owner of the newest expansion franchise in the TBL in 2023 – The Santa Ana Thunder.
Santa Ana Pueblo Background
There are 19 Pueblos along the I-25 that we are affiliated with Santa Ana. Below are the listed reservations:
Acoma | Cochiti | Isleta | Jemez | Laguna | Nambe | Ohkay | Owingeh | Picuris | Pojoaque | Sandia | San Felipe | San Ildefonso | Santa Ana | Santa Clara | Santo Domingo | Taos | Tesuque | Zuni | Zia
With a combined population of over 15,000+ members (excluding the Navajo Nation), Santa Ana Pueblo is centrally located and has a great affiliation with all tribes. The Pueblo of Santa Ana is located in North-Central New Mexico along the Rio Grande. The reservation encompasses 80,000+ acres of land in Sandoval County, New Mexico. There are three (3) villages: Rebahene, Ranchitos, and Chicale.
Quick Demographics:
- Population: 1,000 +/-
- Two or more races: 8.8%
- Hispanic and/or Latino: 77%
- Whites alone, none Hispanic: 9.5%
Focus on Education/Wellness Programming for members includes:
- Higher Education and Youth Scholarships
- After School Programming
- Academics
- Art
- Recreational Activities
We are excited to announce that this is our 1st professional basketball partnership with Santa Ana Pueblo and welcome them as an owner of this historic franchise so that WE can expand the unified vision to UNITE all nations collectively with services and opportunities through sports entertainment.
Coaches
Cliff Levingston
Wallace Williams
Shauna Snyder
