{{Short description|American Basketball Association team in Newark, New Jersey}} {{for|the soccer club|Jersey Express S.C.}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox sports team | logo = File:Logo_of_the_Jersey_Express_basketball_team.jpg | pixels = 200px | founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2005||}} | folded = 2025 | league = ABA | history = '''Newark Express'''<br>2005–2008<br>'''Jersey Express'''<br>2008–2021, 2024–2025<br>'''Garden State Warriors'''<br>2021–2024 | region = East | division = Black | arena = YMCA of Newark | city = Newark, New Jersey | colors = {{color box|#CE1141}} {{color box|#000000}} {{color box|#A2AAAD}}<br>Red, black, silver | owner = Marsha Blount | coach = Tyrone Pullins | championships = | titles = '''5''' (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2025) | cheerleaders = | dancers = | mascot = | website = [https://www.jerseyexpressaba.com jerseyexpressaba.com] }}
The '''Jersey Express''' were a basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. The team competed in the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a member of the Black Division of the East Region.
The team was formed in 2005 as the '''Newark Express''', and later became the '''Garden State Warriors'''. Marsha Blount, executive vice president of the ABA and CEO of the Women's American Basketball Association (WABA), was owner of the team.
==History== [[File:Shaheen Holloway.JPG|thumb|left|Shaheen Holloway playing for the team during their inaugural season in January 2006]] The team was co-founded by Marsha Blount and Jacqueline Halyard, playing as the Newark Express at Essex County College.<ref name="b842">{{cite web | title=Newark Express schedules press conference | website=OurSports Central | date=October 17, 2005 | url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/newark-express-schedules-press-conference/n-3231731 | access-date=March 12, 2025}}</ref> Darryl Dawkins was the team's first head coach for their inaugural 2005–06 ABA season.<ref name="b842"/> Former Seton Hall Pirates standout Shaheen Holloway was signed as their star player.<ref name="n956">{{cite web | last=Sullivan | first=Tim | title=HOLLOWAY ON HALL’S STAFF | website=New York Post | date=August 18, 2006 | url=https://nypost.com/2006/08/18/holloway-on-halls-staff/ | access-date=March 12, 2025}}</ref> The team finished its regular season with a record of 14-16 before falling to the Rochester RazorSharks in the playoffs.<ref name="t274">{{cite web | title=RazorSharks Host Newark in Playoffs | website=OurSports Central | date=March 13, 2006 | url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/razorsharks-host-newark-in-playoffs/n-3279295 | access-date=March 12, 2025}}</ref>
Ron Moore replaced Dawkins as head coach for the 2006–07 ABA season but left shortly into the campaign, leaving Marsha Blount to take over coaching duties herself.<ref name="u997">{{cite web | title=Express names Marsha Blount head coach | website=OurSports Central | date=December 1, 2006 | url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/express-names-marsha-blount-head-coach/n-3401522 | access-date=March 12, 2025}}</ref> Blount's team went 2-21 and failed to make the playoffs. The team rebranded as the Jersey Express for the 2007–08 ABA season and moved their games to Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, but struggled financially as many clubs in the ABA folded mid-season.<ref name="l822">{{cite web | last=Star-Ledger | first=Lawrence Ragonese/The | title=Jersey Express schedule cut as ABA struggles | website=nj | date=January 24, 2008 | url=https://www.nj.com/news/2008/01/the_trademark_red_white_and.html | access-date=March 12, 2025}}</ref> In the 2008–09 ABA season, the team went 14-8 under new coach Jerry Reynolds before falling in the playoffs to the Nashville Broncs.<ref name="g025">{{cite web | last=Lockhart | first=Jason | title=Express name Austin head coach | website=nj | date=August 12, 2009 | url=https://www.nj.com/morristown/jasonlockhart/2009/08/express_announce_austin_as_hea.html | access-date=March 12, 2025}}</ref>
The team moved to East Orange Campus High School in East Orange, New Jersey beginning with the 2009–10 ABA season.<ref name="d310">{{cite web | last=Santiago | first=Katherine| title=Jersey Express to play at East Orange high school gym for upcoming season | website=Star-Ledger | date=August 27, 2009 | url=https://www.nj.com/news/2009/08/jersey_express_to_play_at_east.html | access-date=March 12, 2025}}</ref> Assistant coach Quaasim Austin was promoted to head coach beginning with the 2009–10 season, but was replaced mid-campaign by assistant Cassandra Smith.<ref name="g025"/> Smith led the 12-4 team to its first division title and a playoff appearance.<ref name="f634">{{cite web | title=American Basketball Association 2010, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards | website=usbasket | date=April 12, 2010 | url=https://www.usbasket.com/ABA/basketball_2010.aspx | access-date=March 12, 2025}}</ref><ref name="r883">{{cite web | title=Express Guard Ahmad Mosby Named Aba Rookie Of The Year | website=OurSports Central | date=April 19, 2010 | url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/express-guard-ahmad-mosby-named-aba-rookie-of-the-year/n-3994644 | access-date=March 12, 2025}}</ref>
After the team went 8-6 during the 2010–11 ABA season and failed to make the playoffs, Terry Dehere was originally announced as head coach for the 2011–12 ABA season before he left due to a dispute with ownership.<ref name="p306">{{cite web | last=Journal | first=Adam Maher/The Jersey | title=Jersey Express begins training camp, but coaches Terry Dehere and Luther Wright are no longer with the team | website=nj | date=November 5, 2011 | url=https://www.nj.com/hudson/2011/11/jersey_express_being_training.html | access-date=March 12, 2025}}</ref> Assistant coach Joseph Amador took over, leading the team to a 5-7 record at their new home of Jersey City Armory, but was replaced after the 2011–12 season by assistant coach Ray Ortiz.<ref name="x867">{{cite web | last=Maher | first=Adam | title=Jersey Express win first Jersey City Armory homestand, move to 1-1 | website=nj | date=November 21, 2011 | url=https://www.nj.com/hudson/2011/11/jersey_express_win_first_jerse.html | access-date=March 13, 2025}}</ref><ref name="m740">{{cite web | last=Prezioso | first=Andrew | title=Jersey Express requires sacrifice to extend basketball careers | website=lehighvalleylive | date=February 12, 2013 | url=https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/sports/2013/02/jersey_express_requires_sacrif.html | access-date=March 12, 2025}}</ref> The team then moved to Centenary University in Hackettstown, New Jersey for the 2012–13 ABA season, where the 9-3 team won its third division championship and made the playoffs.<ref name="b694">{{cite web | last=Rowan | first=Tommy | title=Centenary College future home to New Jersey Express semi-pro basketball team | website=lehighvalleylive | date=November 11, 2012 | url=https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/warren-county/express-times/2012/11/brooklyn_nets_new_jersey_expre.html | access-date=March 12, 2025}}</ref>
The club returned to Newark for the 2013–14 ABA season, playing its games at Malcolm X Shabazz High School.<ref name="r875">{{cite web | title=ABA Jersey Express to Hold FINAL Player Tryout, Saturday @1pm, in Newark | website=PRLog | date=August 15, 2013 | url=https://www.prlog.org/12193459-aba-jersey-express-to-hold-final-player-tryout-saturday-1pm-in-newark.html | access-date=March 12, 2025}}</ref> A fourth division title was captured in 2013–14, with the team going 9-2 and making the playoffs.<ref name="r838">{{cite web | title=American Basketball Association 2014, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards | website=usbasket | date=April 16, 2014 | url=https://www.usbasket.com/ABA/basketball_2014.aspx | access-date=March 12, 2025}}</ref>
Team owner Marsha Blount was named CEO of the Women's American Basketball Association (WABA) in 2017.<ref name="l805">{{cite web | title=Marsha Blount Named CEO of WABA | website=US Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings | date=March 21, 2017 | url=https://www.usbasket.com/ABA/news/493024/Marsha-Blount-Named-CEO-of-WABA?Women=1 | access-date=March 12, 2025}}</ref> She also founded a team in that league, the Jersey Expressions, and they captured consecutive WABA championships in 2017 and 2018.<ref name="g254">{{cite web | title=Jersey Expressions are your 2018 Champions! | website=US Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings | url=https://basketball.usbasket.com/ABA/news/552584/Jersey-Expressions-are-your-2018-Champions!?Women=1 | date=October 29, 2018 | access-date=March 12, 2025}}</ref> Blount was later named executive vice president of the ABA in 2022.<ref name="u488">{{cite web |title=MARSHA BLOUNT NAMED EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ABA | website=ABA Basketball – Official Website of the ABA | date=July 21, 2022 | url=https://realabaleague.com/marsha-blount-named-executive-vice-president-of-the-aba/ | access-date=March 12, 2025}}</ref>
From the 2021–22 ABA season through the 2023–24 ABA season, the team was rebranded as the Garden State Warriors.<ref name="v204">{{cite web | title=About the Jersey Express | website=HomeTeamsONLINE | url=https://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=JERSEYEXPRESSABA&s=basketball&p=about | access-date=March 12, 2025}}</ref>
The team returned to its Jersey Express moniker for the 2024–25 ABA season under new head coach Tyrone Pullins, where they captured a fifth division championship with a 11-2 record and advanced to the 2025 ABA playoffs.
==See also== *Sports in Newark, New Jersey ==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.jerseyexpressaba.com Official website] *[https://www.mystatsonline.com/basket/visitor/league/stats/team_basket.aspx?IDLeague=64225&IDTeam=162593 Team statistics] from MyStatsOnline
Category:2005 establishments in New Jersey Category:2025 disestablishments in New Jersey Category:Defunct American Basketball Association (2000–present) teams Category:Basketball in Newark, New Jersey Category:Basketball teams established in 2005 Category:Basketball teams disestablished in 2025 Category:Basketball teams in New Jersey
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