Jags Beyond the Baseline

Buckets and Banter: Interview with Brandon Suttles and Kevin Fletcher

They were with the Jaguars when the team started in 2024; now they're ready to dominate the league. Brandon Suttles and Kevin Fletcher, who both started the first game for the Jaguars are pumped for the home opener on Friday at Linn-Benton Community College. This week, we discussed the Jaguars 100-88 loss to the Grand County Redtails to start the year, how TBL players train during the offseason, how the Jaguars have grown since the first year, and the first home game on Friday at Linn-Benton Community College. To find out more information about Brandon Suttles and Kevin Fletcher or the Willamette Valley Jaguars, check out these links below:Brandon Suttles:InstagramKevin Fletcher:InstagramWillamette Valley Jaguars:wvjags.comInstagramFacebook

An Offseason with The Woman Behind It All: Interview with Head Coach and New Owner Mary Stade

Between leading the first all-female coaching staff in men's professional basketball ever, taking over as team market owner for the Willamette Valley Jaguars, and serving as the commissioner for the NBA/WNBA Willamette Valley Youth League, Coach Mary Stade has had a busy past few months. This week, we finally got to catch up with Coach Stade and discuss the origins of her passion for basketball, the story of how the Jaguars nearly joined a new league, a few causes and nonprofits the Jaguars will be supporting at their home games at Linn-Benton Community College, and the current outlook on the roster and the upcoming season for the Jaguars. To find out more information about Coach Mary Stade or the Willamette Valley Jaguars, check out these links below:Mary Stade:InstagramFacebookWillamette Valley Jaguars:wvjags.comInstagramFacebook

Jaguars Partner Spotlight: The Gate Community Youth Center

The Gate Community Youth Center offers free meals, after-school activities, mentoring, bible study, and auto mechanic tutorials to support the youth in Independence, OR. This year, they partnered with the newly formed Willamette Valley Youth League and hosted the first league in Independence, OR in October and November. This week, we had the pleasure of talking to Mykaela Anderson, the Program Director at The Gate, about her work with the organization, how the youth league has gone this year, and her upbringing and background. To find out more information about Mykaela or The Gate Community Youth Center, check out these links below:Website: thegateyouth.orgInstagram: @thegatecommunityyouthcenter

Jaguars Partner Spotlight: Akida Clips; First-ever Black-owned Barbershop in Linn County

How can someone balance being a business owner, barber, professional body builder, health/wellness coach, and motivational speaker? This week, we talked with Akida Ramsey, from Akida Clips, who partnered with the Willamette Valley Jaguars and the Willamette Valley Youth League in Independence, OR, in their first year. We discussed how he became the only professional bodybuilder from Linn County ever, how he came to own the first-ever black-owned barbershop in the county, his work as a health/wellness coach and a motivational speaker, and his battle with addiction and navigating mental health misdiagnoses. To find out more information about Akida Ramsey or Akida Clips, check out these links below:Instagram: @akidaclips@akidaifbbproFacebook: @akidaclips@akidaramsey

What Happens in Vegas… Becomes Jaguars History: The Jags at TBL's Summer League

Under the bright lights of Las Vegas, the Willamette Valley Jaguars stormed into The Basketball League’s Summer League with something to prove. After winning just two regular-season games, they arrived at Dula Gym hungry to rewrite the narrative. Facing nine other teams all chasing the same prize — a Summer League championship — each day of the tournament was a battle. In this special episode, hear postgame interviews from every matchup, exclusive behind-the-scenes stories, and find out which new training camp invites could become breakout stars next season.