1979–80 WBL season

{{Infobox sports season

| title = 1979–80 WBL season

| league = Women's Professional Basketball League

| sport = Basketball

| duration = November 15, 1979 – April 9, 1980

| no_of_games =

| no_of_teams = 14

| TV =

| draft = Draft

| draft_link = 1979 WBL draft

| top_pick_link =

| top_pick = Pat Colasurdo Mayo

| picked_by = San Francisco Pioneers

| season = Regular season

| top_seed = New York Stars

| MVP = Ann Meyers (New Jersey)
Molly Bolin (Iowa Cornets)

| MVP_link =

| top_scorer = Molly Bolin (Iowa Cornets)

| playoffs = Playoffs

| playoffs_link =

| finals = Finals

| finals_link =

| finals_champ = New York Stars

| finals_runner-up = Iowa Cornets

| finals_MVP =

| finals_MVP_link =

| seasonslist = List of WBL seasons

| seasonslistnames = WBL

| prevseason_link = 1978–79 WBL season

| prevseason_year = 1978–79

| nextseason_link = 1980–81 WBL season

| nextseason_year = 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.{{cite news |title=NY Stars take Cornets' crown |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-ny-stars-take-cornets-crow/133610483/ |access-date=17 October 2023 |work=The Dispatch |agency=United Press International |date=10 April 1980 |page=40 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}

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.{{cite news |title=WBL's Metros, Fox suspend operations |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-wbls-metros-fox-suspend/133610706/ |access-date=17 October 2023 |work=Florida Today |date=22 December 1979 |page=2C |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}

Notable occurrences

In June, former NBA player Dean Meminger was hired as the head coach of the New York Stars.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/25/sports/pro-basketball-how-dean-meminger-turned-his-life-around.html?pagewanted=2 | work=The New York Times | author=Mike Wise | title=PRO BASKETBALL; How Dean Meminger Turned His Life Around | date=25 December 2003}}{{cite news |author1=Don Markus |title=Meminger's new role is an old one |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-nassau-edition-memingers-new/133502759/ |access-date=15 October 2023 |work=Newsday |date=1 July 1979 |page=8 (sports) |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}
Pat Colasurdo Mayo was selected with the first pick in the 1979 WBL draft by the San Francisco Pioneers.{{cite news |title=Cornets select 5 Iowans in WBL draft |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-cornets-select-5-iowans-in-w/133609832/ |access-date=17 October 2023 |work=The Gazette |date=13 June 1979 |page=1C |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}
Former NBA coach Larry Costello was hired as the head coach of the Milwaukee Does.{{cite news |title=Ex-NBA coach turns to women |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/ventura-county-star-ex-nba-coach-turns-t/133611280/ |access-date=17 October 2023 |work=Ventura County Star |date=4 October 1979 |page=C8 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}{{cite news |author1=Helene Elliott |title=Larry Costello suffers among 389 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition-larry-costello/133611437/ |access-date=17 October 2023 |work=Newsday |date=14 December 1979 |page=141 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}
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.{{cite news |title=Ann Meyers signs with WBL Gems |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-day-ann-meyers-signs-with-wbl-gems/133611652/ |access-date=17 October 2023 |work=The Day |agency=Associated Press |date=15 November 1979 |page=48 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}
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.{{cite news |title=It was a Jazzy family reunion for VBK |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-memphis-press-scimitar-it-was-a-jazz/134326115/ |access-date=30 October 2023 |work=The Memphis Press-Scimitar |agency=Associated Press |page=16 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}
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.{{cite news |author1=Bill Jauss |title='Mistaken' Hustle puts in claim for Fincher |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-mistaken-hustle-puts-i/134347824/ |access-date=30 October 2023 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=19 December 1979 |page=3 (Section 5) |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} 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,{{cite news |author1=Bill Jauss |title=Where's Janie now? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-wheres-janie-now/134346808/ |access-date=30 October 2023 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=22 December 1979 |page=3 (Section 2) |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} and she returned to Chicago before the end of the month.{{cite news |author1=Mike Conklin |title=Hustle regains Fincher, may lose general manager |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-hustle-regains-fincher/134348323/ |access-date=30 October 2023 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=27 December 1979 |page=3 (Section 4) |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}
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.{{cite news |author1=Wayne Grett |title=Magnificent Molly makes her mark |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-magnificent-moll/133807018/ |access-date=21 October 2023 |work=The Des Moines Register |date=14 January 1980 |pages=1S, 5S |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} 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.{{cite news |author1=Wayne Grett |title=Bolin's 55 break mark; Cornets win |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-bolins-55-break/133722062/ |access-date=19 October 2023 |work=The Des Moines Register |date=3 March 1980 |page=3S |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}

Standings

width="5%" rowspan=2\| # ! colspan="5" style="text-align:center" \| Eastern Division
class="wikitable" style="width:35em; font-size:95%; text-align:center"
width="35%" \| Team ! width="5%" \| {{Abbr\| W \| Games won}} ! width="5%" \| {{Abbr\| L \| Games lost}} ! width="5%" \| {{Abbr\| PCT \| Winning percentage}} ! width="5%" \| {{Abbr\| GB \| Games behind}}
{{#switch:{{{team}}}\|WSB\|WSB=style="background-color:#CCFFCC"}} !1 \| style="text-align:left;" \|z-New York Stars	28	7	.800	–
{{#switch:{{{team}}}\|YOR\|YOR=style="background-color:#CCFFCC"}} !2 \| style="text-align:left;" \|x-New Orleans Pride	21	13	.618	6.5
{{#switch:{{{team}}}\|ORL\|ORL=style="background-color:#CCFFCC"}} !3 \| style="text-align:left;" \|New Jersey Gems	19	17	.528	9.5
{{#switch:{{{team}}}\|JER\|JER=style="background-color:#CCFFCC"}} !4 \| style="text-align:left;" \|St. Louis Streak	15	21	.417	13.5
{{#switch:{{{team}}}\|STL\|STL=style="background-color:#CCFFCC"}} !5 \| style="text-align:left;" \|Washington Metros	3	7	.300	...
{{#switch:{{{team}}}\|WAS\|WAS=style="background-color:#CCFFCC"}} !6 \| style="text-align:left;" \|Philadelphia Fox	2	8	.200	...
{{#switch:{{{team}}}\|PHI\|PHI=style="background-color:#CCFFCC"}}

width="5%" rowspan=2\| # ! colspan="5" style="text-align:center" \| Midwest Division
class="wikitable" style="width:35em; font-size:95%; text-align:center"
width="35%" \| Team ! width="5%" \| {{Abbr\| W \| Games won}} ! width="5%" \| {{Abbr\| L \| Games lost}} ! width="5%" \| {{Abbr\| PCT \| Winning percentage}} ! width="5%" \| {{Abbr\| GB \| Games behind}}
{{#switch:{{{team}}}\|WSB\|WSB=style="background-color:#CCFFCC"}} !1 \| style="text-align:left;" \|z-Iowa Cornets	24	12	.667	–
{{#switch:{{{team}}}\|IOW\|IOW=style="background-color:#CCFFCC"}} !2 \| style="text-align:left;" \|x-Minnesota Fillies	22	12	.647	1
{{#switch:{{{team}}}\|MIN\|MIN=style="background-color:#CCFFCC"}} !3 \| style="text-align:left;" \|Chicago Hustle	17	19	.472	7
{{#switch:{{{team}}}\|CHI\|CHI=style="background-color:#CCFFCC"}} !4 \| style="text-align:left;" \|Milwaukee Does	10	24	.294	13
{{#switch:{{{team}}}\|MIL\|MIL=style="background-color:#CCFFCC"}}

width="5%" rowspan=2\| # ! colspan="5" style="text-align:center" \| Western Division
class="wikitable" style="width:35em; font-size:95%; text-align:center"
width="35%" \| Team ! width="5%" \| {{Abbr\| W \| Games won}} ! width="5%" \| {{Abbr\| L \| Games lost}} ! width="5%" \| {{Abbr\| PCT \| Winning percentage}} ! width="5%" \| {{Abbr\| GB \| Games behind}}
{{#switch:{{{team}}}\|WSB\|WSB=style="background-color:#CCFFCC"}} !1 \| style="text-align:left;" \|z-Houston Angels	19	14	.576	–
{{#switch:{{{team}}}\|HOU\|HOU=style="background-color:#CCFFCC"}} !2 \| style="text-align:left;" \|x-San Francisco Pioneers	18	18	.500	2.5
{{#switch:{{{team}}}\|SAN\|SAN=style="background-color:#CCFFCC"}} !3 \| style="text-align:left;" \|California Dreams	11	18	.393	6
{{#switch:{{{team}}}\|CAL\|CAL=style="background-color:#CCFFCC"}} !4 \| style="text-align:left;" \|Dallas Diamonds	7	28	.200	13
{{#switch:{{{team}}}\|DAL\|DAL=style="background-color:#CCFFCC"}}

Notes

z – division champions
x – clinched playoff spot

Playoffs

{{2TeamBracket

| seeds = no

| RD1 = Quarter finals

| RD1-seed1 =

| RD1-team1 =Houston Angels

| RD1-score1 =1

| RD1-seed2 =

| RD1-team2 =San Francisco Pioneers

| RD1-score2 =2

}}

{{2TeamBracket

| seeds = no

| RD1 = Quarter finals

| RD1-seed1 =

| RD1-team1 =Minnesota Fillies

| RD1-score1 =2

| RD1-seed2 =

| RD1-team2 =New Orleans Pride

| RD1-score2 = 1

}}

{{4TeamBracket

| seeds = no

| RD1 =

| RD1-seed1 =

| RD1-team1 = New York Stars

| RD1-score1 = 2

| RD1-seed2 =

| RD1-team2 = San Francisco Pioneers

| RD1-score2 = 0

| RD1-seed3 =

| RD1-team3 = Iowa Cornets

| RD1-score3 = 2

| RD1-seed4 =

| RD1-team4 = Minnesota Fillies

| RD1-score4 = 1

| RD2-seed1 =

| RD2-team1 = New York Stars

| RD2-score1 = 3

| RD2-seed2 =

| RD2-team2 = Iowa Cornets

| RD2-score2 = 1

}}

Statistics leaders

Category	Player \|\| Team \|\| Stat
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+
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 homas (New York)
Adrian Mitchell (St. Louis)
Pat Mayo (San Francisco)
Anita Ortega (San Francisco)

Source{{cite news |title=Bolin, Meyers head WBL All-Pro team |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-bolin-meyers-head-wb/133806211/ |access-date=21 October 2023 |work=Arizona Daily Star |agency=Associated Press |date=10 June 1980 |page=C2 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}

References

Category:Women's Professional Basketball League seasons