New York Phoenix announced as Schenectady-based pro basketball team

That was a common theme on Tuesday morning at Armory Studios, as a new professional basketball team, the New York Phoenix, was announced. The team owner and head coach were joined by state, local and league officials, in an event organized by Discover Schenectady.

The New York Phoenix will play its home games at Armory Studios as a member of The Basketball League (TBL), the same league as the Albany Patroons. Team owner Rebecca Clifford announced the head coach/general manager for the inaugural season will be Trevis Wyche, a former Albany Patroons player.

“Today we are excited to announce our first-ever head coach and general manager,” Clifford said of Wyche. “He is a true champion to his core, whether that be competing in the NBA G-League, being a TBL all-star and always a fan favorite in the Capital Region, we are confident he will bring a championship DNA to Schenectady.”

Clifford was previously part of the Patroons’ ownership group, before setting out to start her own franchise in Schenectady.

“We believe professional basketball should be exciting, fast-paced and affordable, while building our foundation of family entertainment,” Clifford said. “That is what we are going to be bringing to Schenectady.”

“We have an experienced ownership group that’s coming in,” said TBL President Dave Magley. “So for us to award a market to Schenectady was easy.”

While building a winning team is certainly among the priorities for the new organization, many of the speakers at Tuesday’s press conference highlighted the other impacts that a professional basketball team playing in downtown Schenectady can make.

“If we do this well, we’re going to be more than just family-fun, affordable entertainment. We’re going to be an asset to the community,” Magley said. “We’re going to be something that you are proud to have, because our guys are young men, out in the community impacting lives. For us to succeed, we have to be visible. For us to be visible, we have to use our [platform] to impact lives.”

While the schedule for the 2025 season has not yet been released, the TBL season typically starts in early March and runs through the end of May.

“Schenectady is a basketball town, and we’re bringing back something that we have a tremendous tradition with here,” said Gary Hughes, the chair of the Schenectady County Legislature. “We think [this] is going to be tremendously successful.”

Even though the season lasts just three months, Discover Schenectady Executive Director Todd Garofano highlighted the benefit of having Armory Studios equipped as a basketball arena.

“We talk about what it’s going to look like in the offseason as well, so having tournaments here and getting involved with youth sports,” Garofano said.

“Our support doesn’t end here today. We’re partners throughout this whole thing. We want to see [the organization] and their fan base grow. We want to see them grow within the region, and we’re here to help support them.”

The added element of a crosstown rivalry against the Albany Patroons was an enticing factor, which stood out to Magley when awarding a TBL franchise to Schenectady.

“The proximity to another team, it doesn’t hurt us,” Magley said. “We have teams in Indiana that are 35 minutes apart, and the biggest crowds they have are when they play each other.”

“With a built-in rival over in Albany, we’re going to have a lot of fun with it,” Garofano added. “I’ll be working with my counterpart over at Discover Albany, I’m sure. It will be a lot of fun.”

The city of Schenectady has enjoyed its share of success with the game of basketball over the years, including scholastic New York State boys’ titles for Schenectady High School in 1998 and 2001. The city is also the hometown of Basketball Hall of Fame member Pat Riley, and many other players who went on to professional and semi-professional careers.

While the Phoenix have New York in their name, and not Schenectady, Clifford expressed her commitment to the area.

“Absolutely,” Clifford said on whether she sees the partnership with Armory Studios as long-term. “We wouldn’t want to do this anywhere else.”