Jags Beyond the Baseline

<p>Between leading the first all-female coaching staff in men's professional basketball ever, taking over as team market owner for the Willamette Valley Jaguars, and serving as the commissioner for the NBA/WNBA Willamette Valley Youth League, Coach Mary Stade has had a busy past few months. This week, we finally got to catch up with Coach Stade and discuss the origins of her passion for basketball, the story of how the Jaguars nearly joined a new league, a few causes and nonprofits the Jaguars will be supporting at their home games at Linn-Benton Community College, and the current outlook on the roster and the upcoming season for the Jaguars. To find out more information about Coach Mary Stade or the Willamette Valley Jaguars, check out these links below:</p><p><strong>Mary Stade:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/coachmarystade_aka_hoopgirl?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==">Instagram</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/mjlstade">Facebook</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Willamette Valley Jaguars:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://wvjags.com/">wvjags.com</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/wvjags?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==">Instagram</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/Wvjags">Facebook</a></p>

<p>The Gate Community Youth Center offers free meals, after-school activities, mentoring, bible study, and auto mechanic tutorials to support the youth in Independence, OR. This year, they partnered with the newly formed Willamette Valley Youth League and hosted the first league in Independence, OR in October and November. This week, we had the pleasure of talking to Mykaela Anderson, the Program Director at The Gate, about her work with the organization, how the youth league has gone this year, and her upbringing and background. To find out more information about Mykaela or The Gate Community Youth Center, check out these links below:</p><p>Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://thegatecommunityyouthcenter.org">thegateyouth.org</a></p><p></p><p>Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077701626676">@thegatecommunityyouthcenter</a></p>

<p>How can someone balance being a business owner, barber, professional body builder, health/wellness coach, and motivational speaker? This week, we talked with Akida Ramsey, from Akida Clips, who partnered with the Willamette Valley Jaguars and the Willamette Valley Youth League in Independence, OR, in their first year. We discussed how he became the only professional bodybuilder from Linn County ever, how he came to own the first-ever black-owned barbershop in the county, his work as a health/wellness coach and a motivational speaker, and his battle with addiction and navigating mental health misdiagnoses. To find out more information about Akida Ramsey or Akida Clips, check out these links below:</p><p></p><p>Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/akidaclips?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==">@akidaclips</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/akida.ifbbpro?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==">@akidaifbbpro</a></p><p></p><p>Facebook: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077701626676">@akidaclips</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/kida.lumar.3">@akidaramsey</a></p>

<p>Under the bright lights of Las Vegas, the Willamette Valley Jaguars stormed into The Basketball League’s Summer League with something to prove. After winning just two regular-season games, they arrived at Dula Gym hungry to rewrite the narrative. Facing nine other teams all chasing the same prize — a Summer League championship — each day of the tournament was a battle. In this special episode, hear postgame interviews from every matchup, exclusive behind-the-scenes stories, and find out which new training camp invites could become breakout stars next season.</p>

<p>Ever wondered what it takes to own a professional sports team? Tune in to this week's episode as Jaguars owner, Marion Clark, details his journey of becoming the owner of a TBL team, the devastating injury that ended his playing career, and how it felt to return to the floor in the Jaguars' exhibition game to close out the year. He also shared his plans to build on the success this year and the talent he'll be recruiting to improve next year's squad.</p>