HISTORY OF THE WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Compiled by Robert Bradley
Contribotors - Jack Black, F. Travis Boley, Robert Bradley, Tom Goddard, John Guy,
Steve Mau, Shawn Oliver, Mark Pollak, Pat Premo, Molly Bolin Kazmer and Dennis Slusher
WBL FRANCHISE CHRONOLOGY 1978-79 - 1980-81
1978-79
In- Chicago Hustle 1978-79 - 1980-81
Dayton Rockettes 1978-79
Houston Angels 1978-79 - 1979-80
Iowa Cornets 1978-79 - 1979-80
Milwaukee Does 1978-79 - 1979-80
Minnesota Fillies 1978-79 - 1980-81
New Jersey Gems 1978-79 - 1980-81
New York Stars 1978-79 - 1979-80
1979-80
In- California Dreams 1979-80 [expansion franchise]
Dallas Diamonds 1979-80 - 1980-81 [expansion franchise]
New Orleans Pride 1979-80 - 1980-81 [expansion franchise]
Philadelphia Fox 1979-80 [expansion franchise]
St. Louis Streak 1979-80 - 1980-81 [expansion franchise]
San Francisco Pioneers 1979-80 - 1980-81 [expansion franchise]
Washington Metros 1979-80 [formerly Dayton Rockettes]
Out- Dayton Rockettes [to Washington Metros]
Philadelphia Fox [disbanded during season]
Washington Metros [disbanded during season]
1980-81
In- Nebraska Wranglers 1980-81 [formerly California Dreams]
New England Gulls 1980-81 [expansion franchise]
Out- California Dreams [to Nebraska Wranglers]
Houston Angels [disbanded]
Iowa Cornets [disbanded]
Milwaukee Does [disbanded]
New England Gulls [disbanded during season]
New York Stars [disbanded]
WBL FRANCHISES BY SEASON 1978-79 - 1980-81
CAD - California Dreams [Long Beach, CA; Anaheim, CA] 1979-80
CHH - Chicago Hustle [Chicago, IL] 1978-79 - 1980-81
DLD - Dallas Diamonds [Dallas, TX] 1979-80 - 1980-81
DYR - Dayton Rockettes [Dayton, OH] 1978-79
HTA - Houston Angels [Houston, TX] 1978-79 - 1979-80
IOW - Iowa Cornets [Des Moines, IA; Cedar Rapids, IA] 1978-79 - 1979-80
MLD - Milwaukee Does [Milwaukee, WI] 1978-79 - 1979-80
MNF - Minnesota Fillies [Minneapolis, MN; Bloomington, MN] 1978-79 - 1980-81
NBW - Nebraska Wranglers [Omaha, NE] 1980-81
NEG - New England Gulls [North Andover, MA] 1980-81
NJG - New Jersey Gems [Elizabeth, NJ; West Orange, NJ] 1978-79 - 1980-81
NOP - New Orleans Pride [New Orleans, LA] 1979-80 - 1980-81
NYS - New York Stars [New York, NY; New Rochelle, NY] 1978-79 - 1979-80
PHF - Philadelphia Fox [Philadelphia, PA] 1979-80
SLS - St. Louis Streak [St. Louis, MO] 1979-80 - 1980-81
SFP - San Francisco Pioneers [San Francisco, CA] 1979-80 - 1980-81
WAM - Washington Metros [Washington, DC; Baltimore, MD] 1979-80
1978-79 - CHH DYR* HTA IOW MLD MNF NJG NYS
1979-80 - CAD* CHH DLD HTA* IWO* MLD* MNF NGJ NOP NYS* PHF# SLS SFP WAM#
1980-81 - CHH DLD MNF NBW NEG* NJG NOP SLS SFP
Notes:
* - franchise disbanded or relocated after season
# franchise disbanded or relocated during season
WBL ARENAS 1978-79 - 1980-81
CAD - Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA 1979-80
Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA 1979-80
CHH - Alumni Hall, Chicago, IL 1978-79 - 1980-81
DLD - Dallas Convention Center Arena, Dallas, TX 1979-80
Moody Coliseum, Dallas, TX 1980-81
DYR - Hara Arena, Dayton, OH 1978-79
HTA - Astro Arena, Houston, TX 1978-79 - 1979-80
IOW - Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Des Moines, IA 1978-79 - 1979-80
Coe College Gymnasium, Cedar Rapids, IA 1978-79 - 1979-80
MLD - Milwaukee Arena, Milwaukee, WI 1978-79 - 1979-80
MNF - Metropolitan Sports Center, Bloomington, MN 1978-79
Williams Arena, Minneapolis, MN 1978-79 - 1980-81
NBW - Omaha City Auditorium, Omaha, NE 1980-81
NEG - Merrimack College, North Andover, MA 1980-81
NJG - Thomas Dunn Center, Elizabeth, NJ 1978-79 - 1979-80
South Mountain Arena, West Orange, NJ 1980-81
NOP - Louisisana Superdome, New Orleans, LA 1979-80 - 1980-81
University of New Orleans Field House, New Orleans, LA 1980-81
NYS - Iona College Gymnasium, New Rochelle, NY 1978-79
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY 1979-80
PHF - Civic Center, Philadelphia, PA 1979-80
SLS - Keil Auditorium, St. Louis, MO 1979-80 - 1980-81
SFP - San Francisco Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, CA 1979-80 - 1980-81
WAM - D.C. Armory Starplex, Washington, DC 1979-80
Baltimore Civic Center, Baltimore, MD 1979-80
WBL YEARLY STANDINGS 1978-79 - 1980-81]
1978-79 WBL
Eastern Division W L Pct. GB
Houston Angels 26 8 .768 ..
New York Stars 19 15 .559 7
Dayton Rockets 12 22 .353 14
New Jersey Gems 9 25 .265 17
Midwest Division W L Pct. GB
Chicago Hustle 21 13 .618 ..
Iowa Cornets 21 13 .618 ..
Minnesota Fillies 17 17 .500 4
Milwaukee Does 11 23 .324 10
WBL EASTERN DIVISION SEMIFINALS
11Apr79 Houston 97, New York 91
13Apr79 Houston 93, New York 84
WBL MIDWEST DIVISION SEMIFINALS
10Apr79 Chicago 112, Iowa 107 OT
12Apr79 Iowa 114, Chicago 101
14Apr79 Iowa 118, Chicago 117
WBL FINALS
17Apr79 Houston 89, Iowa 85
20Apr79 Houston 112, Iowa 98
23Apr79 Iowa 110, Houston 101
26Apr79 Iowa 89, Houston 79
1May79 Houston 111, Iowa 104
1979-80 WBL
Eastern Division W L Pct. GB
New York Stars 28 7 .800 ..
New Orleans Pride 21 13 .618 6.5
New Jersey Gems 19 17 .528 9.5
St. Louis Streak 15 21 .417 13.5
Washington Metros* 3 7 .300 ..
Philadelphia Fox* 2 8 .200 ..
Midwestern Division W L Pct. GB
Iowa Cornets 24 12 .667 ..
Minnesota Fillies 22 12 .647 1
Chicago Hustle 17 19 .472 7
Milwaukee Does 10 24 .294 13
Western Division W L Pct. GB
Houston Angels 19 14 .576 ..
San Francisco Pioneers 18 18 .500 2.5
California Dreams 11 18 .393 6
Dallas Diamonds 7 28 .200 13
*Philadelphia and Washington disbanded during the season
WBL QUARTERFINALS
17Mar80 Houston 90, San Francisco 75
20Mar80 San Francisco 93, Houston 82
22Mar80 San Francisco 98, Houston 95
18Mar80 New Orleans 96, Minnesota 92
21Mar80 Minnesota 97, New Orleans 93
23Mar80 Minnesota 97, New Orleans 91
WBL SEMIFINALS
26Mar80 Minnesota 108, Iowa 87
29Mar80 Minnesota 111, Iowa 128
31Mar80 Iowa 95, Minnesota 92
28Mar80 New York 104, San Francisco 97
1Apr80 New York 91, San Francisco 90
WBL FINALS
3Apr80 New York 128, Iowa 96
5Apr80 New York 119, Iowa 99
7Apr80 Iowa 119, New York 112
9Apr80 New York 125, Iowa 114
1980-81 WBL
Coastal Division W L Pct. GB
Dallas Diamonds 27 9 .750 ..
New Jersey Gems 23 13 .639 4
New Orleans Pride 18 19 .486 9.5
San Francisco Pioneers 14 22 .389 13
New England Gulls* 2 10 .167 ..
Central Division W L Pct. GB
Nebraska Wranglers 27 9 .750 ..
Chicago Hustle 18 18 .500 9
St. Louis Streak 14 21 .400 12.5
Minnesota Fillies 7 28 .200 19.5
*New England disbanded during the season
WBL COSTAL DIVISION PLAYOFFS
3Apr81 New Jersey 91, Dallas 86
4Apr81 Dallas 92, New Jersey 85
6Apr81 Dallas 107, New Jersey 88
WBL CENTRAL DIVISION PLAYOFFS
4Apr81 Nebraska 97, Chicago 75
5Apr81 Nebraska 81, Chicago 61
WBL FINALS
14Apr81 Nebraska 89, Dallas 72
15Apr81 Dallas 106, Nebraska 93
17Apr81 Dallas 96, Nebraska 88
18Apr81 Nebraska 94, Dallas 93
20Apr81 Nebraska 99, Dallas 90
WBL AWARD WINNERS 1978-79 - 1980-81
WBL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
1978-79 - Rita Easterling, CCH
1979-80 - Molly Bolin, IOW
Ann Meyers, NJG
1980-81 - Nancy Lieberman, DLD
WBL COACH OF THE YEAR
1978-79 - Don Knodel, HTA
1979-80 - Dean Meminger, NYS
1980-81 - ???
WBL OWNER OF THE YEAR
1978-79 - ???
1979-80 - Mashall Geller, SFP
1980-81 - ???
WBL ALL-STAR GAME MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
1978-79 - Rita Easterling, CCH
1979-80 - Charlene McWhorter, Chicago
1980-81 - Nancy Lieberman, Dallas