University Selected as Practice Site for LA Clippers Affiliate Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario

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Agua Caliente Clippers or Ontario have chosen Cal Poly Pomona as their practice site.
Agua Caliente Clippers or Ontario have chosen Cal Poly Pomona as their practice site.

Cal Poly Pomona is the new practice location of the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario.

The AC Clippers, the expansion G-League affiliate of the L.A. Clippers, making its debut this season, will practice on the campus of Cal Poly Pomona in the Darlene May Gymnasium, though it will play its 24 home games at Ontario’s Citizens Business Bank Arena, which is located 40 miles east of Los Angeles.

“We’re thrilled to partner with the Agua Caliente Clippers and have them here on our campus. We look forward to a strong partnership and welcome them as a part of the Cal Poly Pomona family,” said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Brian Swanson.

The AC Clippers will tip-off their season on Friday, November 3 against the Santa Cruz Warriors at 7 p.m. Their inaugural 50-game season includes 24 home matchups and 24 road contests, as well as an additional two games at the annual NBA G League Showcase from January 10-13 in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

The team is named for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, a federally recognized Tribe located in Palm Springs, Calif. The Tribe owns and operates the Agua Caliente Casino Resorts, which includes the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage and Spa Resort Casino in downtown Palm Springs. Agua Caliente Casino Resorts is the Presenting Sponsor of the 2017-18 L.A. Clippers Season, as well as the team’s Official Tribal Casino partner.

“We are extremely excited to bring the Clippers Organization back to Cal Poly Pomona and to hold our practices at Darlene May,” said Dee Brown, General Manager of the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario. “We look forward to continuing to establish roots here in the Inland Empire.”

The Clippers organization makes its return to the campus of Cal Poly Pomona, a place they once called their practice home, during their transition to Los Angeles from San Diego.

The Darlene May Gymnasium is named in honor Darlene May, who was the winningest coach in NCAA Division II Basketball history.

Coach May guided the Broncos to a 519-119 overall record and three NCAA Division II titles in 1982, 1985 and 1986. The Broncos also finished second in the nation three times and took third once during her tenure. May retired after the 1993-94 season, concluding a remarkable 20-year career. She averaged nearly 26 wins per season, never had a losing season and won more than 20 games in each or her final 19 seasons.