The Austin Bats Basketball team captured the 2025-26 American Basketball Association national championship, securing the first professional basketball title in franchise history after more than a decade of competition.
The Austin Bats won the title April 11, 2026, concluding one of the league’s strongest seasons after opening the year with a 16-0 record and later claiming the ABA South Region championship.
Finals MVP JaMichael Brown led Austin’s championship run with standout postseason performances that helped propel the team to the national title.
“This championship has been 12 years in the making, and I could not be more proud of this team,” owner Leticia Castillo said. “We have put in the work, year after year, and to finally bring this title home to Austin is an incredible feeling.”
The Bats, who compete in the American Basketball Association, are led by head coach Rommel Corro, who guided the franchise to its first national championship. The roster also included former NBA player Mims O’Neal.
Brown’s postseason play proved decisive during Austin’s run through the ABA playoffs, earning him the league’s Finals MVP honor.
“We came into this season with one goal — to bring a championship back to Austin,” Corro said. “This team never stopped believing in what we were building.”
The championship has drawn recognition across the city, including four billboards celebrating the team’s accomplishment. The organization said it plans to continue community outreach efforts and championship events in the coming weeks.
Founded more than 12 years ago, the Austin Bats have built a following in Central Texas through professional basketball competition, youth engagement, and local partnerships.
The American Basketball Association is one of the nation’s longest-running professional basketball leagues and includes teams across the United States.
