West LA Youth Club

Our Values

Sportsmanship

Showing respect, grace, and integrity in both victory and defeat, treating competitors with dignity while maintaining high ethical standards during competition.

Teamwork

The collaborative effort of individuals working together toward a common goal, with each person contributing their unique strengths while supporting others.

Friendship

A meaningful bond between people with mutual trust, understanding, and care; enriching life through shared experiences and emotional support.

West LA Youth Club (WLAYC) is a nonprofit community basketball organization
based out of the Sawtelle Japantown area in West Los Angeles.

WLAYC was founded after World War II as a means for youth of Japanese American ancestry to be able to play in organized sports leagues.

WLAYC boys teams participate in the
Crescent Bay Optimist (CBO) league
and girls teams participate in the
Japanese American Optimist (JAO) league.

Scholarship Application

Scholarship applications are now available for WLAYC seniors in the graduating class of 2025

Application Deadline: May 4th, 2025

Download Application

INTERESTED IN JOINING?

Contact us to learn about joining a WLAYC team or about participating in the WLA Tournament!