Wyoming Wildcatters: The Forgotten CBA Basketball Team from Casper

In the early 1980s, professional basketball briefly found a home on the high plains with the arrival of the Wyoming Wildcatters. Based in Casper, the team competed in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), a minor league that served as a proving ground for players hoping to reach the NBA. Though their stay in Wyoming was short, the Wildcatters brought a dose of big-time basketball to a state better known for rodeos and wide-open spaces.

The team debuted in the 1982–83 season and quickly developed a small but loyal following. Fans packed the arena to see fast-paced professional basketball in a region that rarely hosted pro sports. Like many CBA teams of the era, the roster was a mix of former college standouts, NBA hopefuls, and veterans trying to keep their professional careers alive.

Despite the enthusiasm from local fans, the franchise struggled financially—an all too common story in minor league sports. After just one season in Wyoming, the Wildcatters relocated, becoming the Florida Stingers. Their brief existence in Casper left behind a curious footnote in basketball history: a reminder of the time when pro hoops briefly thrived in one of America’s least-populated states.

Today, the Wyoming Wildcatters remain a fascinating relic of the CBA’s colorful past—one of many forgotten franchises that helped keep the dream of professional basketball alive for players and fans across the country.

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