By D.M. Livingston|Published Nov 21, 2025
(WATERBURY, CT) — The NVL has been a battlefield for the last decade, and no city has owned the spotlight like Waterbury. From the Sacred Heart dynasty to Waterbury Career Academy’s rise, the league has seen star players, big-time rivalries and championship runs that still get talked about in gyms across the state.
With Sacred Heart closing after the 2021 season, a new era began—one that opened the door for WCA to take over as the city’s newest powerhouse. And heading into the 2025 season, the question around the NVL is simple:
Is 2026 the year Another Waterbury School takes the crown again?
🏆 Last 10 Years of NVL Championship Matchups
Winners listed first
- 2025 – Waterbury Career Academy vs Holy Cross
- 2024 – Waterbury Career Academy vs Holy Cross
- 2023 – Waterbury Career Academy vs Kennedy
- 2022 – Naugatuck vs Kennedy
- 2021 – Sacred Heart vs Naugatuck
- 2020 – Naugatuck vs Holy Cross
- 2019 – Sacred Heart vs Torrington
- 2018 – Sacred Heart vs Holy Cross
- 2017 – Sacred Heart vs Holy Cross
- 2016 – Sacred Heart vs Wilby
🎒 The Sacred Heart Era (2016–2021)
It’s impossible to talk NVL hoops without mentioning the Heartbeat Dynasty. Sacred Heart ran the league for half a decade—physical, disciplined, and loaded with talent every year. Even after the school closed, the impact is still alive in the way Waterbury players approach the game: confident, competitive, and ready for big moments.
🔥 The Rise of WCA
Since 2023, Waterbury Career Academy has stepped straight into the spotlight. Three finals in a row. Three straight titles. WCA isn’t just “the new team on the block” anymore—they’re the standard.
They’re fast, they’re deep, and the gym stays loud. If you’re an NVL team in 2025, you already know:
You have to go through WCA to win the league.
💚 Holy Cross & Kennedy Are Still Right There
Holy Cross has been in four championship matchups in the last decade. Kennedy has had two finals appearances and always puts tough, athletic teams on the floor. Both programs are stacked with talent again this season and have the experience to spoil anybody’s title run.
🐾 The Wilby Wild Card
Don’t sleep on Wilby.
It’s been 10 years since the Wildcats’ last NVL Finals appearance (2016 vs Sacred Heart), but this offseason reminded everyone that the program is very much alive. Wilby shocked the city by winning the Summer League Championship, including a statement win over Holy Cross in the semifinals.
That win changed the conversation.
Players across Waterbury took notice. Coaches took notice. And now every NVL team knows: Wilby is a contender
Wilby Wildcats 2025–26 Basketball Preview: A Summer Championship Raises Expectations
They’re athletic, hungry, and finally playing with the swagger that made Wilby dangerous in the mid-2010s. In a season already full of contenders, Wilby might be the one team nobody wants to draw late in the year.
⭐ Crosby Bulldogs Chasing the Glory Days
While Waterbury Career Academy, Holy Cross, Kennedy, and Wilby battle for current supremacy, the Crosby Bulldogsare on a mission to recapture the magic of the 1990s and early 2000s. Back then, Crosby dominated local courts, producing championship teams that left a lasting mark on the NVL.
Now, a new generation of Bulldogs is stepping up with one goal: bring the titles back to Crosby. Experienced coaches, a mix of veteran leaders and hungry freshmen, and a city watching closely have Crosby quietly poised to make some noise in 2025. They may not be favorites on paper, but they have history, heart, and pride fueling every game.
👀 What Players Should Watch for This Season
- WCA’s attempt at a three-peat
- Holy Cross reloading with depth and experience
- Kennedy bringing size and athleticism at every spot
- Wilby looking to turn a loud summer into a statement winter
- Neighbor- Rival Naugatuck staying disciplined and playoff-ready
🏀 The Energy Is Back
Waterbury basketball is at another high point. New faces, new stars and a league that feels wide open — but still dominated by city programs with something to prove.
If you’re a player, coach or fan… buckle up.
The 2025-26 NVL season is going to be loud.
The Waterbury Times- Waterbury,CT Local News 
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