America's most enduring minor-league basketball franchise
In short: While many professional sports franchises rise and fall, the Sioux Falls Skyforce has endured since 1989. From its origins in the Continental Basketball Association to its current NBA G League status, this South Dakota mainstay has become a cornerstone of American minor-league basketball history.
The Skyforce's journey began in 1989, following a naming contest that saw 1,045 suggestions. The winning identity was formed by merging two distinct entries: 'Sky' and 'Force'. During its early years in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), the team established itself as a competitive force, playing at the Sioux Falls Arena until moving to the Sanford Pentagon in 2013.
The team's history is marked by significant championship success. They reached the CBA championship finals four times, securing titles in 1996 against the Fort Wayne Fury and again in 2005 against the Rockford Lightning. After transitioning to the D-League in 2006, the Skyforce continued to excel, notably winning their first D-League championship in 2016 by defeating the Los Angeles D-Fenders two games to one.
That 2016 season was particularly historic; the Skyforce finished with a 40–10 record, marking the winningest regular season in D-League history. The team's identity is now deeply linked to the NBA's Miami Heat, who announced a single affiliation partnership in June 2013. This partnership led to the adoption of the Heat's signature red and yellow color scheme. By June 2017, the Miami Heat further solidified this connection by purchasing a controlling interest in the franchise, while the Heineman family maintained a minority share.
The team's ownership has evolved significantly since the original group—Bob Correa, Greg Heineman, Roger Larsen, and Tom Walsh—purchased the franchise from the Kemper Lesnik Organization in May 1993.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Sioux Falls Skyforce
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