After three years as the Cypress Venom, the organization enters a new era as the Cypress Truth, representing faith, integrity, accountability, community pride, and a renewed championship vision for Cypress basketball.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 9, 2026
Location Cypress, Texas
CYPRESS, TEXAS — September 9, 2026 — The National Basketball League-United States proudly announces that the Cypress Venom will officially rebrand and compete as the Cypress Truth beginning with the upcoming 2026 NBL-United States season, which is scheduled to begin in November 2026.
The name change marks a powerful new chapter for the Cypress organization after three years under the Venom identity. While the Venom brand helped establish the team’s competitive foundation, toughness, and presence in the league, the move to Cypress Truth represents a deeper connection to purpose, leadership, community values, and the next phase of growth for basketball in Cypress, Texas.
The Cypress Truth will continue to represent the city of Cypress with pride while building a program centered on development, exposure, discipline, and opportunity for athletes pursuing the next level through the NBL-United States platform.
Commissioner Lillian Countee Statement
NBL-United States Commissioner Lillian Countee expressed strong support for the name change and excitement about what the Cypress Truth can bring to the league moving forward.
“This is an exciting moment for the Cypress organization and for the entire NBL-United States,” said Commissioner Lillian Countee. “The transition from Cypress Venom to Cypress Truth is more than a name change. It is a statement of direction, identity, and purpose. The word Truth carries power. It represents honesty, commitment, belief, and accountability — all values that we want our teams, coaches, and players to stand on as they continue to develop on and off the court.”
Commissioner Countee also emphasized the importance of Cypress as a market within the league’s growing Texas footprint.
“Cypress is a strong basketball community with tremendous potential,” Countee continued. “We are excited to see the Truth enter this upcoming season with new energy, a new brand, and a renewed commitment to representing their city the right way. As the NBL-United States continues to grow, teams like Cypress Truth help strengthen our mission of providing players with real exposure, real development, and real opportunities. I am looking forward to seeing the Truth compete this season and become a respected part of the Cypress community.”
A New Identity After Three Years as Cypress Venom
For the past three years, the Cypress Venom name represented intensity, pressure, and competitiveness. The Venom identity gave the team a strong beginning, but the organization believes the time is right to evolve into a brand that better reflects its long-term mission.
The new name, Cypress Truth, was selected to represent something bigger than basketball. It reflects the organization’s desire to build a team known for character, discipline, loyalty, community service, player development, and winning the right way.
The Truth brand is built around several core values:
Truth in development — helping players grow through real coaching, real competition, real film, real stats, and real accountability.
Truth in leadership — creating a culture where coaches, players, and staff lead with integrity and responsibility.
Truth in competition — competing with toughness, confidence, discipline, and respect for the game.
Truth in community — giving Cypress a team that families, schools, local businesses, and young athletes can believe in and support.
Truth in opportunity — using the NBL-United States platform to help athletes gain exposure and prepare for college, professional, and international basketball opportunities.
General Manager/Head Coach Don Thompson Statement
Cypress Truth General Manager and Head Coach Don Thompson said the decision to change the name came from a desire to build a stronger foundation for the future of the organization.
“After three years as the Cypress Venom, I felt it was time for our organization to step into a new identity that speaks to who we are becoming,” said Don Thompson. “The Venom name gave us a beginning. It gave us an edge. It helped us establish ourselves. But now we are moving into a new season, a new direction, and a new standard. Cypress Truth is a name that means something. It represents what we want our team to stand for every day.”
Thompson said the new name will carry meaning beyond the basketball court.
“Truth means accountability,” Thompson continued. “Truth means discipline. Truth means doing things the right way when people are watching and when nobody is watching. For our players, it means being honest about the work it takes to reach the next level. For our coaches, it means building a program with structure and purpose. For the Cypress community, it means this team is here to represent something positive, something real, and something that people can be proud of.”
Thompson also spoke about the importance of connecting the team to the Cypress community.
“We want Cypress Truth to be more than just a basketball team,” Thompson said. “We want this organization to become a community brand. We want young athletes in Cypress to look at this team and see opportunity. We want families to come to games and feel connected. We want local businesses to see a team that is serious about representing Cypress with professionalism. This name gives us a fresh start, but it also gives us a responsibility. We are going to carry the Truth name with pride.”
Preparing for the 2026 NBL-United States Season
The Cypress Truth will begin competition in the 2026 NBL-United States season in November 2026, joining a growing league platform focused on player development, exposure, competitive basketball, and creating pathways for athletes seeking college and professional opportunities.
With the name change, the organization is expected to introduce a renewed brand identity, team messaging, player recruitment strategy, community outreach plan, and game-day experience designed to engage fans throughout Cypress and the Greater Houston area.
The upcoming season will be an important moment for the program as the Truth works to establish its new identity on the court while building stronger relationships off the court.
The team’s goals for the upcoming season include:
Expanding player development opportunities for athletes in Cypress and surrounding communities.
Building a competitive roster that represents the new Truth identity.
Increasing community engagement through youth outreach, local partnerships, and fan-focused events.
Strengthening the team’s visibility across social media, digital media, and local sports coverage.
Creating a professional game-day atmosphere for players, families, fans, and sponsors.
Establishing Cypress Truth as one of the most respected organizations in the NBL-United States.
A Message to the Cypress Community
The Cypress Truth organization is entering this new era with a clear message: the team belongs to Cypress.
The organization plans to represent the city with pride while creating a platform where athletes can develop, fans can connect, and local businesses can support a growing basketball movement. The rebrand is not only about a new logo or a new name. It is about creating a team identity that reflects the values of the community and the future of the organization.
As Cypress continues to grow as one of the most active and developing communities in the Greater Houston area, the Cypress Truth aims to become a team that reflects that same growth, energy, and ambition.
The organization believes the new name will allow the team to connect with players, parents, fans, churches, schools, small businesses, and community leaders in a more meaningful way.
About Cypress Truth
Cypress Truth is a basketball organization competing in the NBL-United States and representing Cypress, Texas. Formerly known as the Cypress Venom, the organization officially changed its name to Cypress Truth ahead of the 2026 season. The team is committed to player development, competitive excellence, community pride, and providing athletes with opportunities to grow through the NBL-United States platform.
About the NBL-United States
The NBL-United States is a college and professional development basketball league designed to provide athletes with competitive games, player promotion, film, statistics, exposure, and pathways to higher levels of basketball. The league continues to expand its footprint while creating opportunities for players, coaches, teams, and communities across the United States.
Media Contact:
Cypress Truth Basketball
Website: usnbl.com
Location: Cypress, Texas