Columbus Quest
Encyclopedia
The Columbus Quest was a professional women's basketball
franchise located in Columbus, Ohio
in the now-defunct American Basketball League (1996-1998)
(ABL). They were one of the league's original eight teams that started play in 1996. In the league's brief history, the Quest was its most successful franchise, winning both championships the league awarded.
The Quest's head coach was Brian Agler
, who finished with a record of 82-22 during the team's two-plus seasons of existence. After the ABL disbanded, Agler became the head coach of the WNBA
's Minnesota Lynx
, which he coached for four seasons. Many of the Quest's players later played for the Lynx, including Katie Smith
, Tonya Edwards
, Valerie Still
, Andrea Lloyd-Curry
, and Shanele Stires
.
The Quest played their home games at the Greater Columbus Convention Center
in Battelle Hall
. The Quest had the lowest average attendance per game for the entire ABL for the three consecutive years of the ABL's existence.
Women's basketball
Women's basketball is one of the few women's sports that developed in tandem with its men's counterpart. It became popular, spreading from the east coast of the United States to the west coast , in large part via women's colleges...
franchise located in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
in the now-defunct American Basketball League (1996-1998)
American Basketball League (1996-1998)
The American Basketball League, often abbreviated to the ABL of 1996 was an independent professional basketball league for women in the United States. At the same time the ABL was being formed, the National Basketball Association was creating the Women's National Basketball Association...
(ABL). They were one of the league's original eight teams that started play in 1996. In the league's brief history, the Quest was its most successful franchise, winning both championships the league awarded.
The Quest's head coach was Brian Agler
Brian Agler
Brian Agler is a basketball coach, currently the head coach of WNBA's Seattle Storm. He has been the head coach of two other professional women's teams, and won two professional titles as coach....
, who finished with a record of 82-22 during the team's two-plus seasons of existence. After the ABL disbanded, Agler became the head coach of the WNBA
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
's Minnesota Lynx
Minnesota Lynx
The Minnesota Lynx are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1999 season...
, which he coached for four seasons. Many of the Quest's players later played for the Lynx, including Katie Smith
Katie Smith
Katherine May "Katie" Smith is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA. Her primary position is shooting guard, although she sometimes plays small forward or point guard. She is the all time leading scorer in women's professional basketball, having notched over 7000 points in both...
, Tonya Edwards
Tonya Edwards
Tonya Edwards is a former professional basketball player and is currently a college coach.- Professional career :...
, Valerie Still
Valerie Still
Valerie Still is a former United States professional women's basketball player with the Washington Mystics of the WNBA.During her four years at the University of Kentucky, she scored more points than any other basketball player, male or female, with 2,763 points. Afterwards she went abroad, playing...
, Andrea Lloyd-Curry
Andrea Lloyd-Curry
Andrea Lloyd is a former professional basketball player, a 2007 inductee into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, and previous television analyst for the Minnesota Lynx. Currently she is working as a television analyst for the MTN sports network with the Mountain West Conference.Lloyd-Curry...
, and Shanele Stires
Shanele Stires
Shanele Marie Stires is a former collegiate and professional women's basketball player. She is currently a junior assistant coach with the San Diego State Aztecs....
.
The Quest played their home games at the Greater Columbus Convention Center
Greater Columbus Convention Center
thumb|right|300px|Front entrance to the Greater Columbus Convention Center in [[Downtown Columbus|Downtown]] [[Columbus, Ohio]].The Greater Columbus Convention Center is a convention center located in downtown Columbus, Ohio, United States, along the east side of High Street.The convention center...
in Battelle Hall
Battelle Hall
Battelle Hall is a 6,864 seat multi-purpose exhibit hall located in Columbus, Ohio, part of the Greater Columbus Convention Center. It opened as the Ohio Center on September 10, 1980, and although sometimes considered a white elephant because of its small size and seating capacity Battelle Hall is...
. The Quest had the lowest average attendance per game for the entire ABL for the three consecutive years of the ABL's existence.
1996-1997
- Finished 31-9, won Eastern Conference by 10 games
- Defeated San Jose LasersSan Jose LasersThe San Jose Lasers were a women's professional basketball team in San Jose, California. It was a member of the American Basketball League.The team folded along with the rest of the league during the third ABL season in 1998....
in Semifinals 2-0 (best of 3)- Game 1 at San Jose: Columbus 94, San Jose 69
- Game 2 at Columbus: Columbus 81, San Jose 69
- Defeated Richmond Rage in Championship 3-2 (best of 5)
- Game 1 at Columbus: Columbus 90, Richmond 89
- Game 2 at Columbus: Richmond 75, Columbus 62
- Game 3 at Richmond: Richmond 72, Columbus 67
- Game 4 at Richmond: Columbus 95, Richmond 84
- Game 5 at Columbus: Columbus 77, Richmond 64
- Nikki McCrayNikki McCrayNikki McCray is a former American professional basketball player. She played in the Women's National Basketball Association for eight seasons....
named Most Valuable Player - Brian Agler named Coach of the Year
- Valerie StillValerie StillValerie Still is a former United States professional women's basketball player with the Washington Mystics of the WNBA.During her four years at the University of Kentucky, she scored more points than any other basketball player, male or female, with 2,763 points. Afterwards she went abroad, playing...
named Playoffs Most Valuable Player
1997-1998
- Finished 36-8, won Eastern Conference by 12 games
- Defeated San Jose LasersSan Jose LasersThe San Jose Lasers were a women's professional basketball team in San Jose, California. It was a member of the American Basketball League.The team folded along with the rest of the league during the third ABL season in 1998....
in Semifinals 2-0 (best of 3)- Game 1 at Columbus: Columbus 94, San Jose 88
- Game 2 at San Jose: Columbus 74, San Jose 62
- Defeated Long Beach StingRaysLong Beach StingraysThe Long Beach Stingrays was a women's professional basketball team. It existed for only the 1997-98 season, and was a member of the American Basketball League....
in Championship 3-2 (best of 5)- Game 1 at Long Beach: Long Beach 65, Columbus 62
- Game 2 at Long Beach: Long Beach 71, Columbus 61
- Game 3 at Columbus: Columbus 70, Long Beach 61
- Game 4 at Columbus: Columbus 68, Long Beach 53
- Game 5 at Columbus: Columbus 86, Long Beach 81
- Valerie Still named Playoffs Most Valuable Player