Lake Erie Jackals
The Lake Erie Jackals are a professional basketball team based in Erie, Pennsylvania, and members of the Basketball Super League. Formerly located in Jamestown, New York, the team relocated to Erie for the 2025–26 season and play at the Joann Mullen Gymnasium.
History
The Jamestown Jackals were established in 2015 by entrepreneur and community leader Kayla Crosby under the nonprofit organization #IntegrityFirst, Inc. The team was founded with a dual mission: to compete at a high level of professional basketball while promoting positive character development, youth mentorship, and community engagement throughout western New York. Crosby’s leadership emphasized a holistic model of sport, blending athletic excellence with social impact.The franchise began play in the Premier Basketball League during the 2016 season. The Jackals competed in the PBL for two seasons before the league folded following the 2017 campaign, leaving the organization temporarily without a competitive home.
In 2018, the team joined the North American Basketball League as part of the league’s newly created Northeast Division. The Jackals quickly proved to be a dominant force, capturing the NABL Northeast Division Championship in their debut season. They advanced to the 2018 NABL Championship Game before ultimately falling to the Dallas Mustangs in the national final.
On August 29, 2018, Crosby announced that the Jackals would join The Basketball League for the 2019 season, marking the organization’s elevation to a fully professional circuit. Under Crosby’s continued leadership as owner and general manager, the franchise gained a reputation for its disciplined play, community service, and regional influence. Following the team’s first TBL season, Crosby was appointed as the league’s Director of Team Development, where she contributed to expanding the league’s national footprint and supporting emerging franchises. During their tenure in TBL, the Jackals were widely recognized for their “Be The Change” initiative, which used basketball as a platform for mentoring youth and promoting social responsibility.
The 2024 season ended in controversy when referees called off a playoff game between the Jackals and the Raleigh Firebirds after a fan threatened a Jamestown player who was subsequently ejected. The unusual circumstances led to a forfeit victory awarded to Raleigh and an abrupt conclusion to Jamestown’s postseason run.
In October 2024, the organization announced its departure from TBL and its acceptance into the Basketball Super League, a higher-tier professional league seeking to unify elite North American teams under a single competitive structure. During a December 2024 community banquet, Crosby reaffirmed the team’s long-term commitment to western New York while acknowledging the increased financial and logistical demands of joining the BSL. The Jackals earned their first BSL victory later that season with a 122–111 win over the Pontiac Pharaohs.
In October 2025, the Jackals announced that the franchise would relocate to Erie, Pennsylvania for the 2025–26 season, marking a new era in the organization’s history. The team plays its home games at the Joann Mullen Gymnasium, reintroducing professional basketball to the city of Erie and expanding the franchise’s regional influence across northwestern Pennsylvania and western New York.
Relocation to Erie
In fall 2025, the Jackals announced its relocation from Jamestown to Erie, marking the return of professional basketball to the Erie market for the first time in several years. The decision, led by team owner Kayla Crosby, reflects an effort to expand the franchise's regional presence and access a larger metropolitan audience while maintaining its established developmental and community programs.Both Erie News Now and YourErie reported that the Jackals will begin play in Erie beginning with the 2025–26 season. The relocation will include a change of home venue and operational base, though the franchise intends to retain the Jamestown Jackals name and branding during the transition period. According to coverage by both outlets, local leaders in Erie welcomed the move as part of a broader effort to revitalize the city's sports and entertainment scene.
Season-by-season record
Note: Statistics are correct as of the 2024–25 season.| League champions | Conference champions | Division champions | Playoff berth |