Submitted Photo 4 Bears Casino & Lodge announce The Roar, a new professional basketball team, are joining The Basketball League as part of its 2026 season. The Roar will be the only professional basketball team in North Dakota. Photo courtesy of Matthew Poyzer

North Dakota is getting their first professional basketball team in the form of The Roar for the 2026 season of The Basketball League.

The 4 Bears Casino & Lodge held a special media event on August 1 to announce the launch of the new basketball team.

“Our team at 4 Bears is very proud to add professional basketball to our long list of amenities for our guests, community, and employees,” said Patrick Packineau, CEO of 4 Bears Casino & Lodge.

The 4 Bears Roar’s inaugural season will run from March 2026 to June 2026 and feature 10 to 15 home games that will be played at the 4 Bears Event Center as part of the company’s amenities. The Roar will be the first professional basketball team in North Dakota and will be the fourth professional sports team in the U.S. to be owned by a Native American tribe.

The Basketball League, which The Roar will be joining, is a professional basketball league that first began 2018 with eight teams. The league has since expanded, with 39 teams competing in the 2024 season. Four other teams are set to make their debut, including the Cowlitz County Sasquatch, Columbus Wizards, Fayetteville Liberty and Santa Ana Thunder.

The 4 Bears Casino & Lodge and The Roar are owned by the MHA Nation, who are located on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, west of New Town.