The Georgia Soul is back and it has a head start on a successful return because of its record of success, its community ties, and its loyal following

(Standing) Left to Right: Chad Cook, Nesia Wright, Latasha Brown, Adrienne Terry, Reyna Adams, Laron Freeman
(Kneeling) Left to Right: Eboni Fields, Lacoya Terry

The Georgia Soul, a local semi-pro women's basketball team that attracted a significant amount of interest and earned many fans during a two season run in 2016 and 2017 that culminated in a Women's Blue Chip Basketball League national championship, will return for its third season this spring and summer, according to founder Ernesia Wright. Wright, a human resource officer at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, and a former Augusta University and Laney basketball star, spearheaded the team's first successful run. And she plans to use the positive experience of the Soul's players, coaches, support staff and volunteers during the first go around to make the most of the coming seasons.

"We want to get out in the community more," Wright said recently when she explained the organization's plans and described its core members.

The Soul has a head start on its plans to engage the community because of the return of star players who already live and work in the area, like Eboni Fields and Lacoya Terry, who are featured in the video highlights below from the Soul's 2017 national championship game comeback win over the St. Louis Surge.

Fields, who played college basketball at Francis Marion after graduating from Laney, is a first year head coach of Butler High School's girls basketball and volleyball teams. Terry, who starred at East Carolina and Hephzibah High, is an activity therapist at the Augusta State Medical Prison, and she also served as an assistant coach for Augusta University's women's basketball team.

The organization's website lists more than a dozen players and coaches and provides details about their backgrounds, including their hometown, educational achievements and current profession. Most of the names and faces will be familiar to fans of the Soul and of area basketball in general. Also listed is information about the team's tryouts, which will be held January 19 and 26 at Butler High. The season will run from May to August, and there will be a minimum of 8 home games on the schedule.

Players and staff members were present last Thursday at the 5th Annual Glenn Hills Alumni Games, and Reyna Adams, the Soul's director of basketball operations, played for her Lady Spartans against Hephzibah's alumni team, which was victorious due in part to a fine performance from Terry.

In the near future, you can find the Soul "out in the community" on Saturday, October 12, at Thomson High School for the CEO Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region event, and October 19 for the Pink Runway Breast Cancer Survivor Fashion Show at the Golden Artillery Dance & Tumbling Studio on Deans Bridge Road.