Cary’s now home to two semi-professional basketball teams. The RDU Sting, an unpaid women’s team, will make the Herb Young Community Center its base of operations this summer.

The Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League team, now in its third year, played its past seasons at a church-owned gymnasium in Raleigh. This year, the women’s team will join the Cary Invasion, the men’s team that went 11-1 in its inaugural season here last year.

In its first year, the Sting drew more than 100 fans per game thanks to a few local college players, but attendance fell off precipitously last year as the roster changed, said general manager Cyril Burnside.

“It’s a balancing act, getting kids that people want to see from local schools ... and then obviously trying to get some of the biggest names you can,” said Burnside, who works for a local coffee company.

The team keeps about a dozen players on its roster, including recently-graduated college players and other women looking to reach professional leagues. The team will pay about $400 for each of the five home games it plays in Cary this year, and hopes to pay its way with sponsorships and $8 tickets.

RDU Sting plays its first Cary game on May 12 at 3 p.m. in the Herb Young Community Center, 101 Wilkinson Avenue.