The KW Titans are taking a shot at joining a different league. The team based in Waterloo Region announced they are making a bid to play in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) for the 2027 season. “It’s really an opportunity for us to take a great product that we have here in KW and put it on a national stage where we’re competing shoulder-to-shoulder with other capital cities across the country, from Ottawa to Montreal to Vancouver, Edmonton,” Kate Schooley, chief operating officer for the KW Titans, told CTV News on Monday. Previously, the Titans played with the Basketball Super League (BSL). Pursuing a spot in the CEBL means the team’s BSL participation has been put on pause. “The bid to join Canada’s pro basketball league represents an important evolution for the Titans,” a news release on Friday said. “While the BSL is a foundational part of our history, a move to the CEBL would bring greater visibility and exposure for Kitchener-Waterloo, expanded opportunities for our team’s growth and more exciting opportunities and competition to deliver to our fans.” “The next best opportunity” “The Titan season in BSL would have ran into basically the beginning [of the CEBL season],” David Schooley, chief executive officer for the KW Titans explained. “Our focus has to be on the next best opportunity. And the CEBL is what we have to work with. And we’re so excited about that.” The BSL is made up of five teams, not including the KW Titans. The regular season takes place between December and March with playoffs in April. During this past season, the Titans lost the championship to the Sudbury Five in a 90-89 heartbreaker. CEBL games are played between May and August, and the league currently has 10 teams from six provinces, including the Niagara River Lions, Scarborough Shooting Stars, Brampton Honey Badgers and Ottawa Blackjacks from Ontario. The Schooleys believe the CEBL schedule would be a better fit for the Titans, as games wouldn’t conflict the with Kitchener Rangers’ schedule. Both teams play out of the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. “It’s really going to open up more opportunities for fans of The Aud. The Rangers have a strong following and a lot of dates in the wintertime. So, moving our basketball schedule to the summertime really just frees up some viewing opportunities for fans,” Kate Schooley said. While potential financial benefits are part of the calculations, David Schooley says they also hope to fill a need. “I think one of the one of the things that’s interesting is that in the summertime there are fewer things to do. And we’re not competing with after school activities and other sports at the same time. So, I think that’s one of the reasons why the CEBL has been so successful and the level of talent that’s available,” David Schooley said. “Having people at The Aud 12 months of the year, right? Using the facility to its best.” In an email, the CEBL told CTV News that it’s too early to say with certainty whether the Titans will join the league. “Kitchener-Waterloo is a strong basketball community with a passionate fan base, and we look forward to working through the process with the Titans,” the email from the CEBL read. How is the CEBL different? Over 12,000 fans attended the CEBL finals last season. The league boasts a heavy rotation of Canadians on its rosters, many of whom also play professional overseas during the winter. A maximum of 14 players is allowed on a CEBL roster, with a limit of five import players on an active roster and a maximum of six import players overall. Teams must always have two Canadians on the floor. According to the league’s website, 17 players had NBA experience in 2025, and “players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA.” “The league itself loves [The Aud]. It’s got a great number of seats. I mean, Vancouver has a 5,400-seat stadium. They sold out seven times this season. That would be a dream for us,” David Schooley said. How would the team change? The move would mean the Titans would likely see a change in their roster, with more emphasis on Canadian talent. “There might be some returning players, but we’ve always had a fresh roster every year, and been very successful in doing that,” David Schooley said. The Schooleys said they’re now looking for investors to bolster their bid and support the club. “We have a lot of great talent and we’re looking for those people that might be interested in investing in the team, coming in as partners,” David Schooley said. “Mark Cuban is a partner of the Honey Badgers. Drake is involved in the Shooting Stars, Scarborough team. So, we’re looking for our shark or NBA player or, possibly somebody in the tech hub.” “Right now, we really just need to focus our energy on taking the steps required to meet the parameters of the CEBL,” Kate Schooley said. The Schooleys said they are eager to hear if they will be the next franchise in the CEBL and will keep fans updated as soon as they know.
