Lightning crashes: London calls it quits on BSL, Forest City

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London Lightning ownership has decided not to play this season, a first for the multi-time champion.

There will be no Lightning in the forecast for the 2025-26 Basketball Super League (BSL) season, as Canada’s most decorated professional basketball franchise has called it quits in the weeks leading up to the upcoming season.

The London Lightning have elected to sit out the season due to “ongoing instability at the league level and uncertainty regarding the number of viable teams committing to play,” the team announced via press release Friday.

“We met as a family and decided it’s time to step away,” Lightning GM Mark Frijia said in an interview with Gameday London Friday. “There are no second thoughts. We’ve been leaning this way for the last six months or so, and we’re at a point where we know we’ve definitely made the right choice.”

The Lightning were a founding member of the BSL when the league tipped off on Boxing Day 2023. BSL officials called it a “sad day” all around.

“Basketball in Canada won’t be the same without the London Lightning,” BSL President David Magley said. “Vito and his family are dear friends to me and to the league. From the start, they have been the best run team, the best run franchise in Canada – and that’s me speaking as a coach, a commissioner, a president, and a fan. They are the class of professional basketball in Canada.”

Media and fans alike have been questioning the team’s silence for some time. This week, the Lightning Facebook and Instagram accounts were noticeably deleted, while championship banners were removed from Canada Life Place.

Sources say that coaches and staff were informed earlier in the week.

This decision didn’t happen overnight. Lightning owner Vito Frijia, along with family, friends, and staff, have been discussing the franchise’s future for some time.

“We’ve been talking about it pretty much since last season ended,” Mark Frijia said. “We decided if things (in the league) were going to be exactly the same this year as they were last year, then we’re probably not going to play. We had some meetings in the summer, and things were looking promising. We were looking at new options, including whether we were going to start a new league or maybe have the teams take over the BSL. But nothing really happened.

“We weren’t really interested in keeping the status quo. We weren’t really happy with the way things have been going with the league.”

The GM outlined a number of complaints behind the decision, from friction with the league about scheduling, to competition level, to communication, consistency and transparency on responsibilities, rules and suspensions, as well.

“It was just a lot of things a professional league shouldn’t do,” Mark Frijia said. 

He called the move “open ended,” however, allowing for the possibility the Lightning will one day surface in the BSL – or beyond.

“If the right opportunity comes along, we’ll always be open to exploring any option, be it in this league or others,” he said. “We’re not contractually obligated in any way. But we would be looking for an opportunity that fits.”

That opportunity, however, will not come this year as ownership plans to take time off to reevaluate.

Magley says the Lightning will be afforded “the luxury of time,” and stressed that the door remains open if the franchise wishes to return for the BSL’s 2026-27 season.

“We honour this decision. They have earned that grace from the league. Of course, we would welcome the Lightning back next season (2026-27). That will be their determination to do so, however.”

No matter the Lightning’s future, the Forest City won’t be left professionally hoopless, Magley stressed.

“Pro basketball will be back in London one way or another,” he said.

The Lightning’s last-minute timing made it impossible to establish a new franchise in London for this season. Even if the Lightning fail to return, Magley said a new franchise and ownership or a new league-run team will call London home for the 2026-27 BSL season.

“There will be a team playing in London next season. London is one of the best sports markets in North America. I firmly believe that. If you are active and visible in the community, and put a quality product on the field, or ice, or court, London fans will love you.”

The league will be releasing its 2025-26 schedule – sans Lightning – this week.

“Despite today’s announcement, you have to celebrate what the Lighting have done for pro basketball in Canada, in London, and as a marquee franchise for this league,” Magley said.

For many longtime season ticketholders and newcomer fans alike, the franchise has felt flat in recent years, especially last season that saw huge declines in attendance as the team pulled further and further back from a community presence.

League and team officials often blamed an unlikeable roster full of bad attitudes and off-colour behaviour and language; former employees blamed disinterest and chaos in the organization’s front office.

Whatever and whoever are to blame, all can agree it was a long fall from the team’s heyday.

Before last season, London appeared in seven of the last eight BSL/NBLC Finals, with their only absence in 2018-19. They had won three straight championships across the two leagues.

Looking back at the 2024-25 BSL season, however, the Lightning were little more than a footnote. A .500 regular season record. A one-and-done playoff appearance. An absence from The Finals. The Lightning were even shut out of the regular season player awards that included Latin Davis (Windsor), MVP; Demetrius Barnes (KW), Sixth Man; and Charlie Marquardt (Sudbury), Newcomer of the Year.

Part of that invisibility involved a near-constant roster churn all season long.

London cycled through 20 players last season, including 14 who made at least one starting lineup. Only two players from the season-opening roster – guard Marcus Ottey and forward Billy White – finished the season with the team in Jamestown.

“We thank our season ticket holders, sponsors, partners and fans for the support over the last 13 seasons,” Mark Frijia said. “We appreciate everything they’ve done. It’s sad, for sure, but we want to make sure to thank them for supporting us and cheering us on. Without them, we definitely wouldn’t have won seven championships. That’s for sure.”