BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
Former Martin County Lady Cardinal basketball standout and Hall of Famer Carla Booth continues to make history through the game that shaped her life.
Booth, owner of OnPoint Ballers, started the OPB Swish in 2024 as a women’s semipro basketball team in the Women’s American Basketball Association. The program played its first game at Martin County High School, bringing semipro basketball to Inez and giving local fans a chance to see high-level talent close to home.
“We started the OPB Swish in 2024, and honestly, I didn’t know exactly what to expect,” Booth said.
What followed was a quick rise in the program’s popularity.
Through basketball relationships, hard work and the right pieces coming together, Booth built a roster featuring some of the biggest names in Kentucky women’s basketball, including former Kentucky Wildcat Makayla Epps.
The Swish reached the WABA Final Four in each of their first two seasons. They fell to the DC Cyclones in their inaugural season and to the Charlotte Lady Cougars last season.
While Booth is proud of what the team has accomplished, the mission has not changed.
“Our goal has always remained the same: to win a WABA Championship,” Booth said.
OPB Swish has added more talent for the 2026 season, including 6-foot-4 Amina Seck from Kentucky State and Hannah Kash from Alice Lloyd College.
“We’re excited about what this group can accomplish together,” Booth said.
The Swish will open the 2026 schedule with regular-season action July 11 against Pittsburgh at Rowan County. OPB Swish will travel to Michigan on July 25 and to Midwest Sound on Aug. 1 and Aug. 2.
The team will return to Kentucky for a pair of home-designated games Aug. 8 and Aug. 9. The Aug. 8 matchup against Michigan will be played in Marion County, Epps’ hometown. The Swish will take on Winston-Salem on Aug. 9 in Hazard.
OPB Swish will travel to Pittsburgh on Aug. 15 before closing the regular season Aug. 29 against Midwest Sound in Louisville. Booth said the team could also possibly host playoff action in Hazard.
For Booth, the Swish is about more than wins and losses. It is also about giving back to the sport and creating opportunities for female athletes.
Booth credited several coaches and mentors who influenced her basketball journey, including Jim Clayton, Jason Wefenstette, Scott Chalk, Kayla and Jr. Vanhoose, John Mills, Roger Harless and Robin Newsome.
“They have all played important roles in helping shape who I am today,” Booth said. “Because of them, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to give back by training players through OnPoint Ballers and working with programs all across Kentucky.”
Booth is also thankful for the support OPB Swish and OnPoint Ballers have received from coaches and schools across the state, including Todd Howard of Hazard, Travis Smith of Owsley County and Robbie Graham of George Rogers Clark, along with countless elementary, middle and high school programs.
As OPB Swish begins another run at the WABA title, Booth hopes the program continues to inspire young female athletes.
“If I could leave one message for every young female athlete, it would be this: Never stop dreaming big,” Booth said. “It doesn’t matter where you come from, how tall you are, or what your athletic ability is today – you can become a star. Outwork everyone around you, embrace opportunities, and don’t be afraid to take chances. You never know who’s watching, and one opportunity can change your life forever.”