HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE
ABL MEMBERSHIP CHRONOLOGY 1996-97 - 1998-99
1996-97
In- Atlanta Glory 1996-97 [charter franchise]
Colorado Explosion 1996-97 - 1998-99 [charter franchise]
Columbus Quest 1996-97 - 1998-99 [charter franchise]
New England Blizzard 1996-97 - 1998-99 [charter franchise]
Portland Power 1996-97 - 1998-99 [charter franchise]
Richmond Rage 1996-97 [charter franchise]
San Jose Lasers 1996-97 - 1998-99 [charter franchise]
Seattle Reign 1996-97 - 1998-99 [charter franchise]
1997-98
In- Long Beach Stingrays 1997-98 [expansion franchise]
Philadelphia Rage 1997-98 - 1998-99 [formerly Richmond Rage]
Out- Richmond Rage [to Philadelphia Rage]
1998-99
In- Chicago Condors 1997-98 [expansion franchise]
Nashville Noise 1997-98 [expansion franchise]
Out- Atlanta Glory [disbanded]
Long Beach Stingrays [disbanded]
ABL FRANCHISES BY SEASON 1996-97 - 1998-99
ATG - Atlanta Glory [Norcross, GA] 1996-97 - 1997-98
CCO - Chicago Condors [Chicago, IL] 1998-99
COX - Colorado Explosion [Denver, CO] 1996-97 - 1998-99
COQ - Columbus Quest [Columbus, OH] 1996-97 - 1998-99
LBS - Long Beach Stingrays [Long Beach, CA] 1997-98
NAS - Nashville Noise [Nashville, TN] 1998-99
NEB - New England Blizzard [Hartford, CT] 1996-97 - 1998-99
PHR - Philadelphia Rage [Philadelphia, PA] 1997-98 - 1998-99
PRT - Portland Power [Portland, OR] 1996-97 - 1998-99
RIR - Richmond Rage [Richmond, VA] 1996-97
SJL - San Jose Lasers [San Jose, CA] 1996-97 - 1998-99
SER - Seattle Reign [Seattle, WA] 1996-97 - 1998-99
1996-97 - ATG COX COQ NEB PRT RIR* SJL SER
1997-98 - ATG* COX COQ LBS* NEB PHR PRT SJL SER
1998-99 - CCO COX COQ NAS NEB PHR PRT SJL SER
Notes:
* - franchise disbanded or relocated after season
ABL ARENAS 1996-97 - 1998-99
ATG - Norcross Arena, Norcross, GA 1996-97 - 1997-98
CCO - University of Illinois-Chicago Pavilion, Chicago, IL 1998-99
COX - Denver Coliseum, Denver, CO 1996-97 - 1998-99
NcNichols Sports Arena, Denver, CO 1996-97 - 1998-99
COQ - Batelle Hall, Columbus, OH 1996-97 - 1998-99
St. John Arena, Columbus, OH 1996-97 - 1998-99
LBS - Pyramid, Long Beach State University, Long Beach, CA 1997-98
NAS - Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, TN 1998-99
NEB - Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT 1996-97 - 1998-99
Springfield Civic Center, Springfield, MA 1996-97 - 1998-99
PHR - The Palestra, Philadelphia, PA 1997-98 - 1998-99
The Apollo of Temple, Philadelphia, PA 1997-98 - 1998-99
PRT - Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR 1996-97 - 1998-99
RIR - Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, VA 1996-97
SJL - San Jose Event Center, San Jose, CA 1996-97 - 1998-99
San Jose Arena, San Jose, CA 1996-97 - 1998-99
SER - Mercer Arena in Seattle Center, Seattle, WA 1996-97 - 1998-99
ABL YEARLY STANDINGS 1996-97 - 1998-99
1996-97 ABL
Eastern Conference W L Pct. GB
Columbus Quest 31 9 .775 ..
Richmond Rage 21 19 .525 10
Atlanta Glory 18 22 .450 13
New England Blizzard 16 24 .400 15
Western Conference W L Pct. GB
Colorado Explosion 25 15 .625 ..
San Jose Lasers 18 22 .450 7
Seattle Reign 17 23 .425 8
Portland Power 14 26 .350 11
ABL SEMIFINALS
23Feb97 Richmond 80, Colorado 77
25Feb97 Richmond 82, Colorado 68
23Feb97 Columbus 94, San Jose 69
25Feb97 Columbus 81, San Jose 69
ABL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
2Mar97 Columbus 90, Richmond 89
4Mar97 Richmond 75, Columbus 62
8Mar97 Richmond 72, Columbus 67
9Mar97 Columbus 95, Richmond 84
10Mar97 Columbus 77, Richmond 64
1997-98 ABL
Eastern Conference W L Pct. GB
Columbus Quest 36 8 .818 ..
New England Blizzard 24 20 .545 13
Atlanta Glory 15 29 .340 21
Philadelphia Rage 13 31 .295 23
Western Conference W L Pct. GB
Portland Power 27 17 .613 ..
Long Beach StingRays 26 18 .591 1
San Jose Lasers 21 23 .477 6
Colorado Xplosion 21 23 .477 6
Seattle Reign 15 29 .340 12
ABL FIRST ROUND
20Feb98 San Jose 80, New England 78
22Feb98 San Jose 83, New England 71
21Feb98 Long Beach 96, Colorado 72
22Feb98 Colorado 88, Long Beach 68
25Feb98 Long Beach 92, Colorado 61
ABL SEMIFINALS
28Feb98 Columbus 94, San Jose 88
1Mar98 Columbus 74, San Jose 62
27Feb98 Long Beach 72, Portland 62
1Mar98 Long Beach 70, Portland 69
ABL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
8Mar98 Long Beach 65, Columbus 62
9Mar98 Long Beach 71, Columbus 61
11Mar98 Columbus 70, Long Beach 61
13Mar98 Columbus 68, Long Beach 53
15Mar98 Columbus 86, Long Beach 81
1998-99 ABL
Eastern Conference W L Pct. GB
Columbus Quest 11 3 .786 ..
Philadelphia Rage 9 5 .643 2
Chicago Condors 4 8 .333 6
Nashville Noise 4 11 .267 7.5
New England Blizzard 3 10 .231 7.5
Western Conference W L Pct. GB
Portland Power 9 4 .692 ..
San Jose Lasers 9 6 .600 1
Seattle Reign 8 7 .533 2
Colorado Xplosion 5 8 .385 4
League disbanded 22Dec98
AMERICAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE AWARDS 1996-97 - 1998-99
ABL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
1996-97 - Nikki McCray, COQ
1997-98 - Natalie Williams, PRT
ABL COACH OF THE YEAR
1996-97 - Brian Alger, COX
1997-98 - Lin Dunn, PRT
ABL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
1996-97 - Debbie Black, COX
1997-98 - Tolanda Griffith, LBS
ABL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
1996-97 - Crystal Robinson, COX
1997-98 - Shalonda Enis, SER
ABL FINALS MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
1997-98 - Valerie Still, COQ
ALL-ABL TEAM
1996-97
FIRST TEAM
Teresa Edwards, ATG
Dawn Staley, RIR
Natalie Williams, PRT
Nikki McCray, COQ
Adrienne Goodson, RIR
SECOND TEAM
Carolyn Jones, NEB
Debbie Black, COX
Taj Williams, RIR
Cindy Brown, SER
Crystal Robinson, COX
1997-98
FIRST TEAM
Teresa Edwards, ATG
Yolanda Griffith, LBS
Carolyn Jones, NEB
Katie Smith, COQ
Natalie Williams, PRT
SECOND TEAM
Jennifer Azzi, SJL
Shalonda Enis, SER
Adrienne Goodson, PHR
Dawn Staley, PHR
Valerie Still, COQ
ABL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
1996-97
22Oct96 - Sheri Sam, SJ
29Oct96 - Teresa Edwards, ATG
5Nov96 - Nikki McCray, COQ
12Nov96 - Cindy Brown, SER
19Nov96 - Katie Smith, COQ
26Nov96 - Saudia Roudtree, ATG
3Dec96 - Edna Campbell, COX
10Dec96 - Debbie Black, COX
17Dec96 - Teresa Edwards, ATG
23Dec96 - Crystal Robinson, COX
31Dec96 - Shanda Berry, NEB
6Jan97 - Natalie Williams, POR
13Jan97 - Teresa Edwards, ATG
21Jan97 - Carolyn Jones, NEB
28Jan97 - Dawn Staley, RIR
4Feb97 - Niesa Johnson, ATG
11Feb97 - Charlotte Smith, COX
18Feb97 - Carolyn Jones, NEB
1997-98
21Oct97 - Yolanda Griffith, LBS
29Oct97 - Natalie Williams, PRT
4Nov97 - Katie Smith, COQ
11Nov97 - Carolyn Jones, NEB
18Nov97 - Elaine Powell, PRT
25Nov97 - Teresa Edwards, ATG
2Dec97 - Katie Smith, COQ
9Dec97 - Stacey Lovelace, ATG
16Dec97 - Jennifer Azzi, SJL
23Dec97 - Natalie Williams, PRT
31Dec97 - Sheri Sam, SJL
5Jan98 - Shalonda Enis, SER
12Jan98 - Edna Campbell, COX
19Jan98 - Sylvia Crawley, PRT
26Jan98 - Natalie Williams, PRT
2Feb98 - Valerie Still, COQ
9Feb98 - Carolyn Jones, NEB
16Feb98 - Adrienne Goodson, PHR
1998-99
16Nov98 - Val Whiting, SER
23Nov98 - Teresa Edwards, PHR
30Nov98 - Kate Starbird. SER
7Dec98 - Yolanda Griffith, CHC
14Dec98 - Teresa Edwards, PHR
21Dec98 - Jennifer Azzi, SJL
ABL DRAFTS 1996 - 1998
1996 ABL DRAFT - 19Jun96
COX - 1 Edna Campbell G Texas
2 Sylvia Crawley F/C North Carolina
SER - 1 Venus Lacy C Louisiana Tech
2 Cindy Brown F/C Long Beach State
SJL - 1 Jennifer Azzi G Stanford
2 Val Whiting F/C Stanford
NEB - 1 Rebecca Lobo C/F Connecticut
2 Teresa Weatherspoon G Louisiana Tech
COQ - 1 Nikki McCray G Tennessee
2 Carla McGhee C/F Tennessee
PRT - 1 Katy Steding F Stanford
2 Ruthie Bolton-Holyfield G Auburn
ATG 1 Teresa Edwards G Georgia
2 Katrina McClain F Georgia
RIR - 1 Lisa Leslie C/F Southern California
2 Dawn Staley G Virginia
1997 ABL EXPANSION ASSIGNMENTS - 26Apr97
LONG BEACH STINGRAYS
SER - Cindy Brown F/C Long Beach State
SER - Venus Lacy C Louisiana Tech
PRT - Michelle Marciniak G Tennessee
Nicky McCrimmon G Southern California
SJL - Trisha Stafford Brown F California
1997 ABL DRAFT - 5May97
t-Territorial selection
FIRST ROUND
1 - LBS Yolanda Griffith C Florida Atlantic
2 - PRT Delisha Milton F/C Florida
3 - NEB-t Kara Wolters C Connecticut
4 - SER-t Kate Starbird G Stanford
5 - ATG-t Tracy Henderson C Georgia
6 - SJL Clarisse Machanguana G Old Dominion
7 - SER (from COX) Shalonda Enis F/C Alabama
8 - RIC-t La Keshia Frett F Georgia
9 - NEB (from COQ) Dale Hodges G/F St. Joseph's
SECOND ROUND
10 - LBS Beverly Williams G Texas-Austin
11 - PRT La Ticia Morris G Auburn
12 - COQ (from NEB) Angie Potthoff G/F Penn State
13 - SER Astou Ndiaye F/C Southern Nazarene
14 - ATG Cathy Boswell F Illinois State
15 - SJL Kedra Holland-Corn G Georgia
16 - COX Keisha Anderson G Wisconsin
17 - RIC Beth Morgan G Notre Dame
18 - NEB Deanna Tate G Maryland
THIRD ROUND
19 - COX (from LBS via SER) Dana Wynne G/F Seton Hall
20 - PRT Elaine Powell G Louisiana State
21 - NEB Carla Berube G/F Connecticut
22 - SJL (from SER) Katryna Gaither F Notre Dame
23 - ATG Abby Conklin G/F Tennessee
24 - SJL Kisa Bradley F/C Oral Roberts
25 - COX Missy Masley F Penn State (played for ATG)
26 - RIC Michelle Campbell G Southern California
27 - COQ-t Jannon Roland G/F Purdue
FOURTH ROUND
28 - LBS Necole Tunsi G Iowa
29 - PRT Erin Scholtz F/G Colorado
30 - COX (from NEB) Latina Davis G Tennessee
31 - SER Yvette Angel G Ohio State
32 - ATG Boky Vidic G Oregon State
33 - SER (from SJL) Kira Orr G Duke
34 - COX Traci Thirdgill G Washington
35 - RIC Dana Wilkerson G Long Beach State
36 - NEB (from COQ) Sandra Hodge G New Orleans
FIFTH ROUND
37 - LBS Ingrid Dixson C UC-Berkley
38 - PRT Markita Aldridge G UNC-Charlotte
39 - NEB Corissa Yasen G Purdue
40 - RIC (from SER) Milica Vukadinovic G Cal-Berkley
41 - ATG ???
42 - SJL Laurie Byrd G Eastern Michigan (played for ATG)
43 - COX Mara Cunningham F/C Vanderbilt
44 - RIC Amy Mallon G St. Joseph's
45 - LBS (from COQ) Clarissa Davis-Wrightsil F Texas
SIXTH ROUND
46 - COX (from LBS) Shanele Stires G/F Kansas State
47 - PRT Charmin Smith G Stanford
48 - NEB Wendy Davis G Connecticut
49 - SER Pashen Thompson F/C Tennessee
50 - COQ (from ATG) Adrian Jones F Kansas State
51 - SJL Jamillah Lang F Colorado (played for SJL)
52 - RIC Ester Benjamin F Old Dominion
53 - ATG (from COQ) Passed
SUPPLEMENTAL PICK
LBS Dena Evans G Virginia
1998 ABL DRAFT - 5May98
FIRST ROUND
1 - PRT (from CHI) Danielle McCulley F/C Western Kentucky
2 - PHR Chasity Melvin F/C North Carolina State
3 - NEB (from LBS via SER) Barbara Farris F/C Tulane
4 - NAS Jacque Nero F Alabama-Birmingham
5 - COX Alisa Burras C Louisiana Tech
6 - SJL Sharon Thompson F Mississippi State
7 - LBS (from NEB) Katrina Price G Stephen F. Austin
8 - PRT Averrill Roberts G Ohio State
9 - CHI (from ATG via LBS) Tausha Mills F/C Alabama
10 - PRT (from COQ) Debra Williams G Louisiana Tech
SECOND ROUND
11 - NAS Na'Sheema Hillmon F Vanderbilt
12 - PHR Shantel Hardison G Louisiana Tech
13 - SER Naomi Mulitauaopele C Stanford
14 - CHI Ashley Berggren G Illinois
15 - COX Darla Simpson F/C Houston
16 - SJL Anna De Forge F Nebraska
17 - COQ (from NEB) Stacey Ford F/C Georgia
18 - COX (from PRT) Tiffany Gooden F Iowa
19 - NEB (from LBS) Trisha Stafford F California
20 - COQ Shanele Stires F Kansas State
THIRD ROUND
21 - PRT (from CHI) Shelley Sheetz G Colorado
22 - PHR Liliana Cabezas F/C Central Florida CC
23 - SER Nadine Malcolm F Providence
24 - NAS Falisha Wright G San Diego State
25 - SJL (from PRT via COX) LaToya Doage G Nebraska
26 - SJL Tiffani Johnson C Tennessee
27 - NEB Carla Berube F Connecticut
28 - NEB Laurie Byrd G Eastern Michigan
29 - SER (from LBS) Boky Vidic G Oregon State
30 - COQ passed
FOURTH ROUND
31 - NAS passed
32 - PHR Traci Thirdgill F Washington
33 - LBS (from SER) Pam Hudson F Northwestern Louisiana
34 - CHI Ryneldi Becenti G Arizona State
35 - COX passed
36 - CHI (from PRT via SJL) Barb Franke F/C Wisconsin
37 - COX (from NEB) passed
38 - PRT Heather Owen C Stanford
39 - LBS passed
40 - SER (from COQ) Nicky McCrimmon G Southern California
FIFTH ROUND
41 - CCO Joanne McCarthy G Illinois-Chicago
42 - SER (from PHR) passed
43 - SER passed
44 - NAS passed
45 - COX passed
46 - SJL Molly Goodenbour G Stanford
47 - NEB Limor Mizrachi G Maryland
48 - PRT Laticia Morris F Auburn
49 - LBS passed
50 - COQ passed
1998 ABL EXPANSION DRAFT - 16Apr98
CHICAGO CONDORS
2 ATG - Cathy Boswell G/F Illinois State
4 NEB - E.C. Hill G Northern Illinois
6 SJL - Anita Kaplan C Stanford
8 LBS - Dana Wilkerson G Long Beach State
NASHVILLE NOISE
1 PHR - Michelle Marciniak G Tennessee
3 SER - Joy Holmes G/F Purdue
5 COQ - Carla McGee C Purdue
7 COX - Vicki Hall F Texas
1998 ABL DISPERSAL DRAFT - 26Aug98
LONG BEACH STINGRAYS
CHI - Deanna Tate G Maryland
COQ - Beverly Williams G Texas-Austin
NEB - Stacey Lovelace F Purdue
PHR - Cass Bauer F Montana State
- Katrina Price G Stephen F. Austin
PRT - Rhonda Smith F Washington
- Natalie Williams C UCLA
SJL - Clarissa Davis-Wrightsil F Texas
- Pam Hudson F Northwestern Louisiana
SER - Andrea Nagy G Florida International
ABL ATTENDANCE
1996-97
Home Home Home
Team Dates Att. Avg.
Atlanta 20 55,593 2,780
Colorado 20 82,212 4,106
Columbus 20 53,585 2,679
New England 20 100,166 5,008
Portland 20 83,343 4,167
Richmond 20 62,785 3,139
San Jose 20 63,623 3,181
Seattle 20 64,571 3,229
Total ABL attendance - 565,787
Average ABL attendance - 3,536
1997-98
Home Home Home Road Road Road
Team Dates Att. Avg. Dates Att. Avg. Total
Atlanta 22 85,755 3,898 22 108,424 4,928 194,179
Colorado 22 84,079 3,822 22 95,117 4,324 179,196
Columbus 22 76,993 3,500 22 100,205 4,555 177,198
Long Beach 22 46,573 2,117 22 97,816 4,446 144,389
New England 22 194,848 8,857 22 89,071 4,049 283,919
Philadelphia 22 71,238 3,238 22 92,872 4,221 164,110
Portland 22 120,473 5,476 22 73,961 3,362 194,434
San Jose 22 105,004 4,773 22 88,985 4,045 193,989
Seattle 22 73,064 3,321 22 111,396 5,063 184,460
Total ABL attendance - 857,937
Average ABL attendance - 4,333
1998-99
Home Home Home Road Road Road
Team Dates Att. Avg. Dates Att. Avg. Total
CHICAGO 5 23,874 4,775 7 21,023 3,003 44,897
COLORADO 8 19,871 2,484 5 15,516 3,103 35,387
COLUMBUS 7 17,119 2,446 7 26,541 3,792 43,660
NASHVILLE 7 17,982 2,569 8 34,348 4,294 52,330
NEW ENGLAND 8 60,479 7,560 5 18,767 3,753 79,246
PHILADELPHIA 6 8,968 1,495 8 35,610 4,451 44,578
PORTLAND 7 32,554 4,651 6 27,763 4,627 60,317
SAN JOSE 7 31,129 4,447 8 29,389 3,674 60,518
SEATTLE 7 27,145 3,878 8 30,164 3,771 57,309
Total ABL attendance - 239,121
Average ABL attendance - 3,857
ABL HISTORICAL TIMELINE
Feb95 - Initial meeting of future ABL owners Steve Hams, Anne Cribbs and Gary
Cavalli
May95 - Theresa Edwards approached concerning her involvement with league
26Sep95 - Formation of ABL is announced in San Jose, California
Feb96 - Original eight franchises announced
May96 - ABL Player Tryout is held in Atlanta with nearly 600 players in attendance
19Jun96 - 1996 ABL Draft held in San Jose
Jun96 - Reebok becomes the league's founding sponsor
Jul96 - Television contract signed with SportsChannel
18Oct96 - New England defeats Richmond 100-73 in the first ABL game in Hartford
1Dec96 - Gary Cavalli is named ABL Chief Executive Officer
15Dec96 - The ABL holds its first All-Star Game in Hartford
Dec96 - Television contract signed with BET TV
11Mar97 - Columbus defeats Richmond 77-64 to win the first ABL title
24Apr97 - Long Beach awarded expansion franchise
26Apr97 - ABL expansion assignments announced
Apr97 - ABL Player Combine held in San Francisco
5May97 - 1997 ABL Draft held
21Jul97 - Richmond franchise moves to Philadelphia
9Sep97 - Television contract signed with FOX Sports Net
31Jan98 - Columbus defeats Philadelphia 100-64 to finish the month of January with
a 10-0 record
5Feb98 - Columbus defeats Portland 71-70 to extend their ABL-record winning streak
to 13 games
7Feb98 - Seattle defeats Columbus 74-62 to snap their ABL-record 13-game winning
streak
15Mar98 - Columbus defeats Long Beach 86-81 to win their second consecutive ABL
title
19Mar98 - Atlanta franchise disbands
8Apr98 - Chicago awarded expansion franchise
9Apr98 - Nashville awarded expansion franchise
16Apr98 - ABL Expansion draft held
5May98 - 1998 ABL Draft held
15Jul98 - CBS announces plans to televise two 1998-99 ABL Championship Series games
26Aug98 - Long Beach franchise disbands
22Dec98 - The ABL suspends operations with $25 million in debts
31Dec98 - The ABL files for reorganization