Desert StingHome / 15U Championship
15U Championship
Our 15U team plays the Arizona Region Championship division, three tournaments, and a qualifier, with Nationals in Las Vegas as the stretch goal. Practices run December 1, 2026 through May 15, 2027, and families commit through July for the post-season.
Practices
Tuesdays plus a second day still to be announced, starting Tuesday, December 1. The season has 43 two-hour practices. There's no practice the week between Christmas and New Year's, and the December 22 practice before the break is optional. Practices are at a West Valley school gym, and times will be posted once it's booked.
Club fees
$2,688 – $2,700.50
Per player, paid in full. Dues cover gym rental, AZ Region league play, tournament entries, coaching for three coaches, the AAU club membership, and the gear package. If more players join, each player's share goes down.
Or pay in six fixed installments totaling $2,988, which includes a $300 plan fee. The first payment, $591.30, is due at tryouts.
Gear package
Included in dues, $463 per player:
- Team bag
- Two jerseys
- Hoodie
- Pants
Shorts aren't provided. Players bring their own plain black shorts or spandex.
Paid by families
Not part of club dues. Memberships must be active before a player can practice or compete.
- AZ Region / USAV junior membership: $75 ($47 AZ Region + $28 USAV), bought on the AZ Region website
- AAU youth athlete membership: $22 regular or $24 extended coverage
- Travel and lodging for Salt Lake City, and Las Vegas if we earn a Nationals bid
- Court shoes, knee pads, plain black shorts or spandex, and black and white practice shirts (the white shirt must be at least 75% polyester)
- Optional arm sleeves: $23–$69 for 1–3 pairs
2027 competition schedule
Dates may change. AZ Region dates are covered by the league package. Salt Lake City is a stay-to-play event, so families must book lodging through the tournament's official housing provider.
| Date | Event | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 16–18 | MLK AZ Open AAU Super RegionalMesa, AZ | AAU |
| Sat, Jan 23 | Championship #1Seeding | AZ Region |
| Sat, Feb 6 | Championship #2Final seeding | AZ Region |
| Feb 13–15 | Festival Fiesta ClassicPhoenix | AAU |
| Sat, Feb 20 | Championship #3 | AZ Region |
| Sat, Mar 13 | Championship #4 | AZ Region |
| Mar 27–29 | Salt Lake City ShowdownSalt Lake City, UT · 15 Liberty · Easter weekend · stay-to-play | USAV Qualifier |
| Sat, Apr 3 | Championship #5 | AZ Region |
| Apr 10–11 | AZ NCQNational Division Qualifier | USAV Qualifier |
| Sat, Apr 17 | Championship #6 | AZ Region |
| Sat, Apr 24 | 15s–18s Arizona Regional Championship | AZ Region |
| Jun 27 – Jul 5 | USAV Girls Junior National ChampionshipLas Vegas, NV · 15 Liberty · stretch goal, only if we earn a bid | Nationals |
Where the dues go
| Cost | Per player |
|---|---|
| Gym rental (43 practices) | $1,236.25 |
| AZ Region league | $162.50 |
| Tournament entries | $382.50 – $395.00 |
| Coaching & AAU club membership | $443.75 |
| Gear package | $463.00 |
| Total, paid in full | $2,688.00 – $2,700.50 |
Payment plan
Pay in full ($2,688 – $2,700.50) or in six fixed payments totaling $2,988.00, which includes a flat $300 plan fee. Payments use the lower Festival Fiesta estimate ($885). If its final price comes in higher, plan families may be asked for a small extra payment later in the season. The monthly share covers the rest of the AZ Region fee, tournament entries, coaching and AAU fees, remaining gym rental, and the plan fee.
| Payment | Due | Covers | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Initial | Nov 21 (tryouts) | Gear, gym rental, and the AZ Region first installment, split with December | $591.30 |
| 2 | Dec 10 | Gear, gym rental, and the AZ Region first installment, split with November | $591.30 |
| 3 | Jan 10 | Monthly share | $451.35 |
| 4 | Feb 10 | Monthly share | $451.35 |
| 5 | Mar 10 | Monthly share | $451.35 |
| 6 | Apr 10 | Monthly share | $451.35 |
| Plan total | $2,988.00 |
Questions families ask
What does the Championship division mean?
The Arizona Region groups teams by competitive level. Our 15U team plays in the Championship division for strong, consistent competition all season.
What memberships does my daughter need?
An AZ Region / USAV junior membership ($75, bought on the AZ Region website) and an AAU youth athlete membership ($22–$24) for AAU events like the MLK AZ Open and Festival Fiesta. Both must be active before she can practice or compete.
How much travel is involved?
Most events are in Arizona: six AZ Region Championship dates, the Arizona Regional Championship, the MLK AZ Open in Mesa, Festival Fiesta in Phoenix, and the AZ NCQ. The one planned out-of-state trip is the Salt Lake City Showdown on Easter weekend, March 27–29. It's stay-to-play, so lodging must be booked through the tournament's housing provider. If we earn a bid, Nationals is in Las Vegas. Families pay their own travel and lodging.
Can we qualify for Nationals?
It's our stretch goal. A bid is earned by placing well at a qualifier, such as the Salt Lake City Showdown. It can't be bought and isn't guaranteed. The 2027 Girls Junior National Championship is June 27 – July 5 in Las Vegas. If we earn a bid, expect about $367.50 more per player for the entry fee and 8 extra June practices, plus travel.
Will dues go down if more players join?
Yes. Gym, league, tournament, and coaching costs are fixed for the team, so a bigger roster lowers each player's share. Only the gear package is per player.
How long is the commitment?
Practices run December 1, 2026 through May 15, 2027. Players commit through July for any post-season play.