By D.M.Livingston|Published Dec 7, 2025

WCA isn’t chasing the NVL this year — the league is chasing them.

For the last three seasons, the Waterbury Career Academy Spartans have been the standard in the Naugatuck Valley League. Three straight NVL championships, multiple statement wins, a deep roster built on two-way toughness, and a style of play that forces opponents to adjust to them, not the other way around.

But before the 2025-26 journey begins, it’s important to understand what made last year special — and why this year’s team arrives with both momentum and pressure.

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2024-25 Season Recap: The Season They Proved Their Dynasty

WCA didn’t just defend their title — they validated it.

Signature Wins

• 80–47 demolition of Naugatuck (1/24)
  A statement that the NVL still runs through the Spartans.
• 72–67 win over Holy Cross (1/31)
  A clutch, wire-to-wire battle.
• 75–72 thriller vs Crosby (2/10)
  A rivalry win that showed their poise late.
• 62–51 win @ Crosby (2/25)
  Silenced a fired-up Bulldog crowd.

Battle-Tested Losses

The few defeats only sharpened them:

• @ Crosby (65–58) — a hostile-gym lesson early.
• @ Platt (54–51) — a reminder about closing late.
• @ Holy Cross (67–62) — set up a bigger showdown later.
• State Tournament vs Windsor (85–70) — a high-octane test against CT royalty.

Identity Check

Last season proved WCA is:

• Disciplined, not flashy
• Deep, not top-heavy
• Defensive-first, but can score in bunches
• Unshakeable, especially in rivalry gyms

You can’t win three straight NVL championships by accident.
You win them by culture.
WCA has that — and returns with the city watching.

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2025-26 Season Preview: A Dynasty Faces Its Hardest Test

WCA enters the new season wearing the biggest target in the state outside of Fairfield County powerhouses.

Key Storylines for the New Season

1. The NVL Has Rebuilt — But WCA Still Sits on Top

Holy Cross reloads.
Crosby returns athletes.
Naugatuck is trying to erase last year’s blowout loss.
Kennedy and Wilby have pieces.

Wolcott is quietly improving.

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But WCA has something nobody else does:

Championship experience.
A proven system.
A locker room that expects banners.

2. Road Games Will Decide Their Fate

Last year’s toughest moments came away from home:

• @ Crosby

Waterbury’s CROSBY BULLDOGS: HighSchool Boy’s Basketball 2025–26 PREVIEW

• @ Platt
• @ Holy Cross

This year’s road slate is brutal again. The NVL gyms will be packed whenever the Spartans walk in.

3.State Respect is on the Table

WCA has earned NVL dominance, but the next step is a deep CIAC run.
Last year’s Windsor game showed the gap — and showed they’re close.

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2025-26 Outlook: Dynasty Mode Activated

Projected Finish:

NVL Championship Contender — Again.

State Tournament Ceiling:

Semis or better

Defining Question:

Can WCA turn NVL dominance into statewide recognition?

Everything is lined up for a heavyweight season — the culture, the experience, the returning talent, and a city behind them. The Spartans have the chance to make history with a fourth straight NVL crown, something almost unheard of in modern league play.

But the league is coming for them.
The crowds will be louder.
Every gym will feel like a playoff game.

WCA wouldn’t want it any other way.

And with that, only one preseason profile remains — Holy Cross. But we’re holding that one until their football team finishes their incredible run. The Crusaders are in the state semifinals, and they’ve earned their moment in the spotlight. Once the football helmets are put away, we’ll break down the defending NVL runners-up and what to expect from their basketball squad.

Waterbury’s Holy Cross Crusaders Beat Down the Odds, Earns Class M Semifinal Berth

WCA’s preview is complete. Holy Cross is next — right after they chase a championship of their own.

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