1979–80 WBL season

2nd WBL season October 2023 1979–80 WBL season Women's Professional Basketball League Basketball November 15, 1979 – April 9, 1980 14 Draft 1979 WBL draft Pat Colasurdo Mayo San Francisco Pioneers Regular season New York Stars Ann Meyers (New Jersey)Molly Bolin (Iowa Cornets) Molly Bolin (Iowa Cornets) Playoffs Finals New York Stars Iowa Cornets List of WBL seasons WBL 1978–79 WBL season 1978–79 1980–81 WBL season 1980–81 The 1979–80 WBL season was the 2nd season of the Women's Professional Basketball League. The season ended with the New York Stars winning the WBL Championship, beating the Iowa Cornets 3 games to 1 in the WBL Finals.NY Stars take Cornets' crown https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-ny-stars-take-cornets-crow/133610483/ 17 October 2023 The Dispatch United Press International 10 April 1980 40 Newspapers.com The league was divided into three divisions, with the New Jersey Gems, New York Stars St. Louis Streak, Washington Metros and the Philadelphia Fox in the Eastern Division, the Iowa Cornets, Minnesota Fillies, Chicago Hustle and the Milwaukee Does in the Midwest and the Houston Angels, San Francisco Pioneers, California Dreams and the Dallas Diamonds in the West. Struggling financially, Philadelphia and Washington both disbanded after 10 games.WBL's Metros, Fox suspend operations https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-wbls-metros-fox-suspend/133610706/ 17 October 2023 Florida Today 22 December 1979 2C Newspapers.com Notable occurrences In June, former NBA player Dean Meminger was hired as the head coach of the New York Stars.https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/25/sports/pro-basketball-how-dean-meminger-turned-his-life-around.html?pagewanted=2 The New York Times Mike Wise PRO BASKETBALL; How Dean Meminger Turned His Life Around 25 December 2003Don Markus Meminger's new role is an old one https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-nassau-edition-memingers-new/133502759/ 15 October 2023 Newsday 1 July 1979 8 (sports) Newspapers.com Pat Colasurdo Mayo was selected with the first pick in the 1979 WBL draft by the San Francisco Pioneers.Cornets select 5 Iowans in WBL draft https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-cornets-select-5-iowans-in-w/133609832/ 17 October 2023 The Gazette 13 June 1979 1C Newspapers.com Former NBA coach Larry Costello was hired as the head coach of the Milwaukee Does.Ex-NBA coach turns to women https://www.newspapers.com/article/ventura-county-star-ex-nba-coach-turns-t/133611280/ 17 October 2023 Ventura County Star 4 October 1979 C8 Newspapers.comHelene Elliott Larry Costello suffers among 389 https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition-larry-costello/133611437/ 17 October 2023 Newsday 14 December 1979 141 Newspapers.com After sitting out the 1978–79 season and participating in the Indiana Pacers training camp, Ann Meyers signed with the New Jersey Gems in November.Ann Meyers signs with WBL Gems https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-day-ann-meyers-signs-with-wbl-gems/133611652/ 17 October 2023 The Day Associated Press 15 November 1979 48 Newspapers.com The season debut was on 15 November 1979, where the New York Stars defeated the New Orleans Pride, 120–112, before a record crowd of 8,452 in the Louisiana Superdome.It was a Jazzy family reunion for VBK https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-memphis-press-scimitar-it-was-a-jazz/134326115/ 30 October 2023 The Memphis Press-Scimitar Associated Press 16 Newspapers.com On 26 November, Janie Fincher of the Chicago Hustle was traded to the Washington Metros for two third-round draft picks and an undisclosed amount of cash. As Chicago's most popular player, the trade turned out to be a very unpopular move with Chicago's fans, with many turning in their season tickets afterwards.Bill Jauss 'Mistaken' Hustle puts in claim for Fincher https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-mistaken-hustle-puts-i/134347824/ 30 October 2023 Chicago Tribune 19 December 1979 3 (Section 5) Newspapers.com Due to the uproar, the Hustle tried to get the trade voided but could not do so before the Metros folded with Fincher going into a dispersal draft with the other Metros players. Despite having a chance to select her with the 4th pick, the team traded the pick to the Iowa Cornets for Denise Sharps, and Fincher was then selected with the fifth pick by the St. Louis Streak. The Hustle however, then traded Adrian Mitchell to the Streak for "Future considerations" which turned out to be Fincher,Bill Jauss Where's Janie now? https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-wheres-janie-now/134346808/ 30 October 2023 Chicago Tribune 22 December 1979 3 (Section 2) Newspapers.com and she returned to Chicago before the end of the month.Mike Conklin Hustle regains Fincher, may lose general manager https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-hustle-regains-fincher/134348323/ 30 October 2023 Chicago Tribune 27 December 1979 3 (Section 4) Newspapers.com On December 19, Liz Silcott scored 50 points for the St. Louis Streak in a 93–90 win against the Minnesota Fillies.Cal Fussman Streak's Whiz is a Wow: 50 points https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-streaks-whiz-is/177097776/ 20 July 2025 St. Louis Post-Dispatch 20 December 1979 1F Newspapers.com On January 13, 1980, Molly Bolin, of the Iowa Cornets, broke her own WBL single game scoring record of 53 points when she scored 54 in a 109–93 win against the Minnesota Fillies.Wayne Grett Magnificent Molly makes her mark https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-magnificent-moll/133807018/ 21 October 2023 The Des Moines Register 14 January 1980 1S, 5S Newspapers.com Two months later, on March 2, 1980, she broke the record again, scoring 55 points in another win against the Fillies despite dislocating her left shoulder early in the second quarter. That game, she also became the first WBL player to break the 1,000 point barrier in a single season.Wayne Grett Bolin's 55 break mark; Cornets win https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-bolins-55-break/133722062/ 19 October 2023 The Des Moines Register 3 March 1980 3S Newspapers.com Standings # Eastern Division Team W Games won L Games lost PCT Winning percentage GB Games behind1z-New York Stars 28 7 .800 –2x-New Orleans Pride 21 13 .618 6.53New Jersey Gems 19 17 .528 9.54St. Louis Streak 15 21 .417 13.55Washington Metros 3 7 .300 ...6Philadelphia Fox 2 8 .200 ... # Midwest Division Team W Games won L Games lost PCT Winning percentage GB Games behind1z-Iowa Cornets 24 12 .667 –2x-Minnesota Fillies 22 12 .647 13Chicago Hustle 17 19 .472 74Milwaukee Does 10 24 .294 13 # Western Division Team W Games won L Games lost PCT Winning percentage GB Games behind1z-Houston Angels 19 14 .576 –2x-San Francisco Pioneers 18 18 .500 2.53California Dreams 11 18 .393 64Dallas Diamonds 7 28 .200 13 Notes z – division champions x – clinched playoff spot Playoffs no Quarter finals Houston Angels 1 San Francisco Pioneers 2 no Quarter finals Minnesota Fillies 2 New Orleans Pride 1 no New York Stars 2 San Francisco Pioneers 0 Iowa Cornets 2 Minnesota Fillies 1 New York Stars 3 Iowa Cornets 1 Statistics leaders + Category Player Team Stat Points per game Molly Bolin Iowa Cornets 32.8 Rebounds per game Doris Draving Iowa Cornets 14.9 Assists per game Janice Thomas New York Stars 8.6 Steals per game Ann Meyers New Jersey Gems 4.9 Blocks per game Bertha Hardy New Orleans Pride 2.7 WBL awards Co-Most Valuable Players: Ann Meyers, New Jersey Gems, and Molly Bolin, Iowa Cornets Coach of the Year: Dean Meminger, New York Stars All-Pro team Molly Bolin (Iowa) Ann Meyers (New Jersey) Rita Easterling (Chicago) Charlene McWhorter (Chicago) Alfreda Abernathy (Dallas) Paula Mayo (Houston) Doris Draving (Iowa) Heidi Nestor (Milwaukee) Marie Kocurek (Minnesota) Bertha Hardy (New Orleans) Sharon Farrah (New York) Janice Thomas (New York) Adrian Mitchell (St. Louis) Pat Mayo (San Francisco) Anita Ortega (San Francisco) SourceBolin, Meyers head WBL All-Pro team https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-bolin-meyers-head-wb/133806211/ 21 October 2023 Arizona Daily Star Associated Press 10 June 1980 C2 Newspapers.com References Category:Women's Professional Basketball League seasons