Valley Vipers professional basketball team coming to Purcellville

The announcement was made at a press conference at Patrick Henry College in Purcellville on Sept. 10. The college will host the team’s 12 home games. The 24-game season starts in March and ends in May.

Owned by Tina and Rodney Culbreath and their son Rze, the team has been based in Winchester since 2022 and is part of a growing league, Rodney Culbreath said.

The Valley Vipers is the only TBL team in Virginia. The next closest team is the Frederick Flying Cows in Maryland, Rodney Culbreath said.

The league began in 2018 and now has 38 teams.

One thing that sets TBL apart is its mission to work with communities and to make a difference with local nonprofits and youth, Tina Culbreath said. The team partners with the I’m Just Me Movement, a nonprofit that focuses on youth wellness and mental health, she said.

“Our mission is to impact communities through family-friendly entertainment, but we also give back to communities,” Tina Culbreath said. “It’s important to have partnerships and we are excited about our partnership with Patrick Henry College and the town of Purcellville.”

The nonprofit Tree of Life will also be one of the team’s beneficiaries of their community mission, she said. In addition, Ashburn-based United Charitable is serving as the team’s first local sponsor.

She emphasized how sports can impact kids as they watch players who become their role models.

“Sports connect people in a very unique way. Kids see themselves in role models. When we have players on the court achieving their dreams and they look at these athletes and say they are more than athletes. It’s a vision that wow, they achieved a high level of basketball, and I can do that, too,” Tina Culbreath said.

“This is more than just basketball. You are teaching kids and the community, and it is about giving back and being there, which is what we do best. Our league is growing, and this area is growing and it’s good to grow with this area. I think timing is everything and this definitely was the right time,” Rodney Culbreath added.

Their son, Rze Culbreath, is a player on the team and said he is excited to play in Purcellville.

“Whatever sport you play, it’s a big impact what you do outside of the sport, and I love this league. I’m excited to relocate and hopefully impact the community here, as well,” he said.

He added that there are opportunities for local players to join the league and play after college.

“It’s a high showcase league and an opportunity for players to still chase their dreams and play a high level of basketball,” he said.

Purcellville Mayor Stanley Milan said that when he first heard about the Vipers’ vision to move to Purcellville, he thought it would be a nice addition to the town, especially considering it is already home to the Purcellville Cannons baseball team.

“We are looking forward to this opportunity to present this team to the community. People can come to Purcellville and have an enjoyable evening in a safe environment, since we are the safest town in Virginia,” he said, referring to a ranking by a group called Safewise.

Vice Mayor Erin Rayner agreed that it is nice to add another family-friendly activity to the town.

“It is a great economic opportunity to partner with local businesses and I love your mission and how active you will be in the community, and I know the business community is very excited to have you here,” she said. “We have already talked about doing a family night where we host the Vipers and local families and leagues come in and we’ll do some games and just really make it a family team. I just can’t thank you enough for choosing Purcellville.”

Ethan Patrick, the athletic director at Patrick Henry, said the school’s administration and students are ready to welcome the Vipers.

“We are excited they have found our little school and appreciate the beauty that God’s given us as far as a school and the facilities that we have and we wish that they have a great season,” he said.

Purcellville’s high school basketball coaches met the news with enthusiasm.

Woodgrove boys varsity coach Konstantine Papastergiou said it is “excellent news for the community and youth basketball in Purcellville as a whole.”

“This community is rapidly growing, and basketball is becoming the face of our community with both local high schools having had such recent success. This is just yet another opportunity to help grow the game, but also pour into the community and our youth, which deserve to have something to be proud of and look up to. It’s amazing to see that it will now be on a professional level and I look forward to working with the Vipers moving forward in my time as head boys basketball coach at Woodgrove,” he said.

Chad Dawson, the head coach for the boys varsity team at Loudoun Valley High School, agreed.

“It is a great addition for the community. I’d like to see the local teams play at halftime and it’s another great opportunity for exposure,” he said. ”I’ve known Rze and his close-knit family for years and what they will bring is wonderful for the community.”

He added that it is a great opportunity for former players to have a chance to participate on the team.

“Basketball has become pretty big in Loudoun — at Valley, we hope to get back to the state level again next year. This gives kids an opportunity to get involved with the team at some capacity,” he said.

Stephen Renner, who is president of the Western Loudoun Basketball League, which serves boys and girls in grades 1 through 12, said she looks forward to seeing the Vipers and what the team it brings to the area.

“For almost 50 years, our league has focused on developing young athletes, helping them grow both on and off the court. Having a professional team in our community will be an incredible inspiration to our youth, and just further highlights the growth that this area has seen in expanding its love for the game of basketball,” he said.