NBA cheerleading

• 1. Introduction

  ›

  NBA cheerleading has always been more than halftime entertainment. Paula Abdul spent years as a Laker Girl in the 1980s before becoming one of the most recognizable pop stars and television personalities in the world. Her trajectory from the sidelines of a basketball court to global fame is not unique. It turns out the NBA's dance squads have served as a launching pad for singers, wrestlers, actresses, reality television contestants, and news anchors across the country.

  Nearly every team in the National Basketball Association fields a squad. They perform at games, participate in charity work, take part in fundraisers, and work as models. But the rosters of notable alumni tell a stranger and richer story than the job description suggests. Who are the women who built careers from these squads? How have the squads themselves changed over time? And which team stands alone as the only one without a traditional dance squad today?

• 2. The Squads Across the League

  ›

  Thirty teams compete in the NBA, and nearly all of them maintain a dance squad. The names alone reveal something about regional identity and team culture. The Chicago Bulls field both the Luvabulls and the Chicago Incredibulls. Detroit's squad is called Automotion, a nod to the city's automotive history. The Dallas Mavericks recently rebranded their squad as the D-Town Crew, having previously operated as the Mavs Dancers.

  The San Antonio Spurs stand apart from every other franchise. They are the only team currently without traditional NBA dancers. Until 2018, the Spurs had a squad called the Silver Dancers, but the organization discontinued it. No replacement squad has followed.

  Some teams have expanded beyond traditional all-female rosters in recent years. The league's squads have grown to be more inclusive as part of broader efforts to appeal to a wider audience. The Portland Trail Blazers, for instance, field both the Blazer Dancers and a separate Blazers Stunt Team, suggesting the format continues to evolve beyond its original shape.

• 3. From Sidelines to Stardom

  ›

  Paula Abdul danced for the Laker Girls during the 1980s. So did Tina Landon, who went on to become a dancer and choreographer. The Los Angeles Lakers squad alone produced a striking number of alumni who built careers in entertainment, from actress Taylour Paige, who danced for the team in 2010, to Leah Van Dale, who joined the WWE after her 2010-11 season as a Laker Girl.

  The Miami Heat squad sent Jessica Sutta into the music industry. She danced for the Heat from 1999 to 2002 before joining The Pussycat Dolls. Trista Rehn danced for Miami from 2000 to 2002 and later became the first contestant on The Bachelor's inaugural season. Shannon Bex danced for the Portland Trail Blazers from 1999 to 2004 and also became a member of Danity Kane. Dawn Richard, another Danity Kane alumna, danced for the New Orleans Hornets.

  Wrestling has a notable thread running through the alumni rolls. Eve Torres danced for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2006-07 before joining the WWE. Trinity McCray, listed among Orlando Magic alumnae, also became a WWE wrestler. Layla El danced for the Miami Heat from 2004 to 2006 before moving into professional wrestling as well.

• 4. Beauty Pageants and Broadcast News

  ›

  Deneen Graham danced for the Atlanta Hawks in 1994. She had previously been crowned Miss North Carolina in 1983. That combination of pageant achievement and professional dance is a pattern repeated across dozens of teams. Shanon Lersch danced for the Chicago Bulls from 2004 to 2009 and was named Miss Illinois USA in 2008. Ashley Bond overlapped with Lersch on the same squad, dancing from 2007 to 2013, and won Miss Illinois USA the following year in 2009.

  The Sixers, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and Milwaukee Bucks each count former state USA title holders among their alumni. Brittany Bell danced for the Suns from 2006 to 2009 and later became Miss Arizona USA 2010. Bishara Dorre danced for the Milwaukee Bucks from 2008 to 2011 and was named Miss Wisconsin USA 2014.

  Broadcast journalism drew a parallel stream of alumni. Heather Van Arsdel danced for the New York Knicks from 1998 to 2005 and became a news anchor at WPTZ. Lindsey Kovacevich danced for the Denver Nuggets from 2005 to 2007 and went on to anchor and report for KVAL-TV. Heather Zara, a Detroit Pistons alumna, became a traffic reporter at WDIV-TV. Aubrey Aquino, who danced for the Sacramento Kings, became a TV reporter and host.

• 5. Alumni Who Built the Industry

  ›

  Maya Hayes danced for the Chicago Bulls from 1996 to 1999 and then for the Dallas Mavericks from 2007 to 2009. She later became the Founder and President of the National Basketball Dancer Alumni Club, established in 2023. She also served as game day entertainment coordinator and choreographer for the Jr. Basketball League under LaVar Ball.

  Denise Garvey traces one of the more unusual paths through the league. She was a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader before dancing for the New York Knicks and the New Jersey Nets. She later became the director of the New York Jets Flight Crew, moving from performance to squad management across three different professional sports franchises.

  Casey Potter danced for the Houston Rockets from 2016 to 2018 and went on to direct the Houston Texans Cheerleaders. Natalie Alvarado danced for the Rockets from 1997 to 2004 and became a singer and dance team director for the Minnesota Timberwolves, bridging performance and administration in the same region where she competed.

• 6. Reality Television's Roster

  ›

  Cassandra Ferguson danced for the Detroit Pistons and later appeared as a contestant on season 18 of The Bachelor. Kimberly Sullivan danced for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008-09 and appeared on season 14 of the same show. Sydney Lotuaco danced for the New York Knicks from 2015 to 2018 and appeared on season 23 of The Bachelor.

  Keltie Knight danced for the New Jersey Nets from 2003 to 2005 and became a television entertainment reporter. Nicole Arbour, who danced for the Toronto Raptors, became a YouTube comedian. Tiffany Coyne danced for the Utah Jazz from 2000 to 2002 and went on to co-host and model on the CBS daytime game show Let's Make a Deal.

  Jocelyn Peck appears in the records of three separate squads. She danced for the Utah Jazz from 2007 to 2010, then for the Los Angeles Clippers from 2010 to 2012, then for the Indiana Pacers from 2013 onward. She is listed in the alumni records as the wife of Stanley Havili, making her one of the more well-traveled dancers in the league's history.