05/26/2026
As I sit down and reflect on this season, I’ll be honest… it’s hard to put into words everything that comes with this journey. Running a professional basketball team at this level is not easy. There were sleepless nights, difficult conversations, financial challenges that felt overwhelming, moments of doubt, moments of frustration, and moments where the weight of it all felt heavier than I ever expected. There were highs that reminded me why I love this, and there were lows that tested me in ways I never saw coming. There were moments this season where I questioned a lot, moments that hurt, moments that challenged me mentally, emotionally, and personally, and moments where it would have been easy to ask myself if all of this was worth it. But through all of it, one word keeps coming back to me… gratitude.
First and foremost, to our fans… thank you. Thank you for believing in us, for wearing our colors, bringing your families, showing up in the stands, watching online, sharing our story, engaging on social media, and spending your hard-earned money to support what we are building. In a world where people have so many choices on where to spend their time, energy, and money, you chose us. That means more than I could ever truly explain. Because the truth is, when you build something from the ground up, support feels different. Every ticket purchased, every share, every comment, every kid in a Wizards jersey, every family that chose to spend their night with us… I noticed it. I felt it. And I will never take that for granted.
To our players… I truly don’t know if thank you is enough. Thank you for believing in this organization and trusting us with your dream. Thank you for wearing Wizards across your chest with pride and pouring your heart into every practice, every game, every road trip, and every moment in between. What people see on game night is only a fraction of the story. They don’t see the sacrifices behind closed doors. They don’t see the missed time with family, the physical pain, the financial hardships, the jobs many of you work outside of basketball, or the mental and emotional weight that comes with chasing a dream at this level. And this season was not easy. There were challenges, adversity, and financial realities that impacted all of us in different ways. Some players made the difficult decision to step away, and I respect that because everyone has to do what is best for themselves and their families. Others continued to show up, compete, and carry themselves with professionalism in the face of uncertainty. No matter what role you played in this journey, I want you to know that your sacrifice mattered. To every player who wore a Wizards jersey this season, whether it was for one game or the full journey, thank you. To chase a dream at this level requires heart, sacrifice, faith, and resilience, and what I will remember most is not just what happened on the court, but the way so many of you kept showing up, kept fighting, and kept believing even when things got hard. You inspired young kids in our stands who saw themselves in you, and you reminded people that dreams are still worth fighting for. For that, I will always have love, appreciation, and respect for every player who was part of this story.
To The Columbus Crystals, and to Kiki Williams for leading that group with passion and professionalism… thank you. What you built this season was bigger than performances. You brought energy, pride, excitement, and life into this organization. You helped create memories for families and fans every single night, and you represented this team with class, passion, and professionalism. And just like our players, you faced adversity too. There were moments this season where things were not easy, there were challenges, uncertainties, and financial realities that affected all of us, and yet… you still showed up. You still performed. You still represented this organization with grace, professionalism, and pride. That did not go unnoticed, and that says everything about your character. Beyond the performances, you inspired people. There were little girls in those stands watching you and seeing possibility, confidence, and another path toward their own dreams. That matters. Representation matters. Inspiration matters. And every single one of you became an important part of what made this season special.
To our coaches, Brad Rader, Thorne Stephens, and Ray Corbett… thank you. Thank you for the countless hours, the long nights, the preparation, the planning, the scouting, the player development, and the work that so many people will never fully see. But more than that… thank you for your leadership. Because this season demanded more than basketball. It demanded leadership in moments of adversity, calm in moments of uncertainty, and strength when the season became heavy. Through all of that, you continued to lead, continued to pour into our players, continued to hold this team together, and continued to keep this organization moving forward even when the weight of it all got heavy. That kind of leadership is not easy, and it often goes unnoticed. But I want you to know… I saw it. I saw the sacrifices, the emotional weight, the commitment, and the belief. And I want you to know how deeply appreciated you are because this season would not have been possible without you.
To our volunteers, sponsors, partners, performers, and everyone behind the scenes… thank you. Organizations like ours are never built by one person. They are built by people who believe, commit, sacrifice, and continue showing up even when things get hard. This season, we were fortunate to showcase incredible bands, dancers, performers, and community groups that brought energy and excitement to our game nights. Every single person who played a role in making this season special deserves our gratitude.
I also want to take a moment to acknowledge the Grove City Whitetails . Rivalries are special because they create passion, emotion, and moments that people remember. While we battled on the court, talked our talk, and competed with pride, I also want to extend my respect to them because what they are building is not easy either. This level is hard. Building something in this space takes sacrifice, belief, and resilience, and rivalries matter because they create belief, passion, and respect on both sides. They deserve recognition for the season they had.
My love for The Columbus Wizards is hard to put into words. This organization has taken a lot out of me at times. It has challenged me, stretched me, and tested me. But it has also reminded me why I started in the first place. Because this has never just been about basketball. It has always been about opportunity. It has always been about community. It has always been about giving people a place to belong. And that’s why I remain committed not only to continuing to build The Columbus Wizards, but to helping improve minor league basketball as a whole. Because the people sacrificing for this game deserve better. The players deserve better. The coaches deserve better. The owners deserve better. The communities deserve better. And I truly believe that if the right people come together with the right intentions, we can move this space forward in a meaningful way.
This season brought wins, losses, laughter, lessons, adversity, frustration, growth, heartbreak, and unforgettable moments. But maybe the biggest lesson this season reminded me of is this… success is not always measured by a scoreboard. Sometimes it’s measured by resilience. By the people who stayed. By the lessons learned when things got hard. By the relationships built. By the impact made. By the belief that even through adversity, something meaningful is still being built.
There were moments this season that hurt. Moments that challenged us in ways we didn’t expect. Moments where it would have been easy to question everything. And yes… there were people who doubted us, questioned us, criticized us, or wondered if this vision would ever work. But adversity has a way of revealing character. Criticism has a way of forcing you to grow. Doubt has a way of testing how deeply you believe in what you’re building.
Not everyone will understand the sacrifices that come with this journey. Not everyone will see the vision right away. And that’s okay.
Because this season reminded me that belief has to be stronger than doubt, commitment has to be louder than criticism, and purpose has to be bigger than adversity.
In a strange way, even the difficult moments, the setbacks, and yes… even the doubters played a role in this story because they reminded me why I started in the first place. Through every setback, every obstacle, and every difficult moment… my commitment to this organization and this city only grew stronger.
From the bottom of my heart… thank you. Thank you for believing in us. Thank you for supporting us. Thank you for challenging us. Thank you for growing with us. And thank you for being part of this journey.
We are far from done.
Not even close.
With gratitude,
Casey Gillespie
President, Columbus Wizards
