London Lightning won't return for upcoming season, citing league concerns

The London Lightning will not take the court when the new season starts in November.

General manager Mark Frijia confirmed the decision on Friday, calling it a difficult but necessary step for the organization after 14 years in the city, during which they clinched seven championships.

"We've just decided to take a step back from basketball, at least for this year," Frijia said. "We don't really like the way the direction of the league is going, and we just don't feel it was appropriate for us to do another season at this time."

The Lightning have been playing in the Basketball Super League (BSL), which took shape after the National Basketball League of Canada folded in 2023. Frijia said the team was accustomed to a league model where franchises collectively owned and governed operations, with decisions made transparently and by vote.

He described the new league as more centralized, with teams paying their players, staff and league dues, while the BSL itself has no independent revenue.

"That's just not how the BSL is run," Frijia said. "We made the decision that we thought was right for us at this time."

The team's decision will not affect any existing player contracts. Frijia said that most deals in the league are year-to-year, and the Lightning had not yet signed players for the coming season. He acknowledged players will be disappointed, as London had become a destination for talent.

"I don't think we've ever had a player that didn't love coming to London, didn't love how we treated them," he said. "Almost everyone always wants to come back. So there will definitely be disappointment."

The Lightning's lease at Canada Life Place had expired, but Frijia said arena issues were not behind the move.

For fans, the loss is significant. Since their founding in 2011, the Lightning have been a fixture of the local sports scene, winning multiple championships and drawing large crowds with a mix of competitive play and high-energy entertainment.

Last season, the team set a BSL record by scoring 160 points in a single game against the Tri-State Admirals.

Frijia emphasized the decision is not a farewell but a pause.

"We'll keep our options open for the future. We don't have anything contractually holding us back from playing in the BSL or another league," he said.

Above all, he thanked the fans and sponsors.

"They made the last 14 years possible," Frijia said. "Hopefully, we can bring basketball back to London in the future."