Wiseguys hopeful they can bring a championship back to Hot Springs

The Wiseguys are hoping to bring back something that Hot Springs hasn’t seen since the Bathers in 1950 — a championship.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — In July 2024, we met Arkansas’s newest professional football team, the Hot Springs Wiseguys. 

Now, in August of 2025, that team is playing for a championship.

“Having a chance to play for a championship in year one is amazing,” said head coach Bones Bagaunte. “It’s a testament to these guys. Can’t do it without them, and can’t do it without the fans.”

The Wiseguys and the City of Hot Springs instantly connected.

“They’ve been coming out to every event, and in heavy numbers,” laughed quarterback Jordan Ambrose. 

Wide receiver Terrell Brown agreed.

“Hot Springs has welcomed us like family. They love us here. We meet so many people every day,” he said.

Bagaunte knows that that support has been essential, beyond just the cheering fans

“We’re still one of the only teams without ownership, so we need sponsorship for everything.  Everybody has just been, like, ‘what do you need, how can we help you?’” he explained.

“It’s a community, and we feel at home here. It’s a second home for real,” added Brown.

On to @TheArenaLeague championship!

Finally got out to see the @HSWiseguys in person and it did not disappoint.

Some first-half highlights featuring Jordan Ambrose and @tra_james13. pic.twitter.com/3iXjFCtJqi

— Nick Luttrell (@nickluttie) August 3, 2025

Now, the Wiseguys have a chance to bring back something that Hot Springs hasn’t seen since the Bathers in 1950 — a championship. 

However, Bagaunte has tried to put it in perspective.

“We’re in the midst of something bigger than ourselves right now. For a place to be overlooked for sporting events, because they had a team in Little Rock. They didn’t bring it to Hot Springs; We were like a little brother. Now, for them to get a team, for us to have a team in Hot Springs, to play for a championship, it’s just amazing,” he described.

The Wiseguys will take on The Arena League’s reigning champs, the Duluth Harbor Monsters, on Saturday, August 9 at 7:00 p.m. 

The game is at Duluth and will be streamed on YouTube.

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