National Women's Basketball League
Encyclopedia
The National Women's Basketball League, often abbreviated to the NWBL, was an organization governing professional basketball
leagues for women in the United States
. The league was founded in 1997 and began play in the Fall of that year. The league used to have its own season during the off-season of the WNBA
. During the off-season, some WNBA players would play in the NWBL, while some would choose to play overseas. The league ceased operations some time in 2007.
and the WNBA before it, the NWBL was founded to govern a competitive amateur league for women. The NWBL was founded in 1997, in the shadow of both the ABL and the WNBA. The league is considered to be the brainchild of Patrick Alexander and Kevin Szotkowski, who saw the rapid growth of women's athletics of the time and decided to go into the business of promoting women athletes. With the assistance of former college basketball players and NWBL co-founders Jolynn Schneider and Jeanine Michealsen, Alexander and Szotkowski launched an aggressive marketing campaign in the Fall of 1997 to recruit players and teams.
Although the recruitment campaign was not without its problems (including the death of Nick Johnson, co-founder of the marketing firm behind the league), the NWBL enrolled four teams by November and held its first championship series in December 1997. The first four teams enrolled were the San Diego Waves (considered to be the first NWBL team), the Columbus Lady Blazers, the Washington DC Defenders and the Long Beach Lightning. By the end of 2000, the league grew to encompass 600 players in 15 states and 26 cities.
The 2001 season was the first season for the NWBL Pro League, which now serves as the primary organization for the NWBL. The first four teams in the newly formed league were the Atlanta Justice
, the Birmingham Power
, the Mobile Majesty
and the Kansas City Legacy. The league managed to finish its first season in April 2001 when the Atlanta Justice won the 1st NWBL Pro Cup.
Since 2001, the NWBL Pro League has played host to such WNBA stars as Sheryl Swoopes
, Sue Bird
, Tamika Catchings
and Becky Hammon
.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
leagues for women in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The league was founded in 1997 and began play in the Fall of that year. The league used to have its own season during the off-season 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...
. During the off-season, some WNBA players would play in the NWBL, while some would choose to play overseas. The league ceased operations some time in 2007.
History
In contrast to the ABLAmerican 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...
and the WNBA before it, the NWBL was founded to govern a competitive amateur league for women. The NWBL was founded in 1997, in the shadow of both the ABL and the WNBA. The league is considered to be the brainchild of Patrick Alexander and Kevin Szotkowski, who saw the rapid growth of women's athletics of the time and decided to go into the business of promoting women athletes. With the assistance of former college basketball players and NWBL co-founders Jolynn Schneider and Jeanine Michealsen, Alexander and Szotkowski launched an aggressive marketing campaign in the Fall of 1997 to recruit players and teams.
Although the recruitment campaign was not without its problems (including the death of Nick Johnson, co-founder of the marketing firm behind the league), the NWBL enrolled four teams by November and held its first championship series in December 1997. The first four teams enrolled were the San Diego Waves (considered to be the first NWBL team), the Columbus Lady Blazers, the Washington DC Defenders and the Long Beach Lightning. By the end of 2000, the league grew to encompass 600 players in 15 states and 26 cities.
The 2001 season was the first season for the NWBL Pro League, which now serves as the primary organization for the NWBL. The first four teams in the newly formed league were the Atlanta Justice
Atlanta Justice
The Atlanta Justice were one of the original franchises of the National Women's Basketball League . Based in Atlanta, Georgia, they played from 2001 to 2002. The Justice won the inaugural NWBL championship in 2001....
, the Birmingham Power
Birmingham Power
The Birmingham Power was one of the original franchises of the National Women's Basketball League . Based in Birmingham, Alabama, they played from 2001 to 2005.-External links:**...
, the Mobile Majesty
Mobile Majesty
The Mobile Majesty were one of the original franchises of the National Women's Basketball League . Based in Mobile, Alabama, they played in 2001....
and the Kansas City Legacy. The league managed to finish its first season in April 2001 when the Atlanta Justice won the 1st NWBL Pro Cup.
Since 2001, the NWBL Pro League has played host to such WNBA stars as Sheryl Swoopes
Sheryl Swoopes
Sheryl Denise Swoopes is an American professional basketball player who, subsequent to being waived into free agency, signed to re-join the WNBA to play with the Tulsa Shock in 2011. She was the first player to be signed in the WNBA when it was created. She has won three Olympic Gold Medals and...
, Sue Bird
Sue Bird
Suzanne Brigit "Sue" Bird is an American professional women's basketball player for the Seattle Storm and WBC Spartak Moscow Region....
, Tamika Catchings
Tamika Catchings
Tamika Devonne Catchings is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the WNBA and Turkish team Galatasaray. She is a prolific scorer close to and far from the basket, as well as a capable rebounder, ball handler, and defender. After playing at Adlai E...
and Becky Hammon
Becky Hammon
Rebecca Lynn "Becky" Hammon is a professional basketball player currently under contract with the San Antonio Silver Stars of the WNBA.-Early life:...
.
Past teams
- Atlanta JusticeAtlanta JusticeThe Atlanta Justice were one of the original franchises of the National Women's Basketball League . Based in Atlanta, Georgia, they played from 2001 to 2002. The Justice won the inaugural NWBL championship in 2001....
(2001) - Birmingham PowerBirmingham PowerThe Birmingham Power was one of the original franchises of the National Women's Basketball League . Based in Birmingham, Alabama, they played from 2001 to 2005.-External links:**...
(2001–05) - Chicago Blaze (2002–06)
- Colorado ChillColorado ChillThe Colorado Chill were a professional women's basketball team playing in the National Women's Basketball League from 2004-2006. Based in Loveland, Colorado, they were Colorado's second and longest-lived women's pro basketball team...
(2004–06) - Grand Rapids BlizzardGrand Rapids BlizzardThe Grand Rapids Blizzard were a women's professional basketball team in the National Women's Basketball League . Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, they played in 2003....
(2003) - Houston StealthHouston StealthThe Houston Stealth were a women's professional basketball team in the National Women's Basketball League . Based in Houston, Texas, they played from 2002 to 2004. They won the NWBL championship in two of their three years of existence....
(2002–04) - Iowa Cornettes (2004)
- Lubbock HawksLubbock HawksThe Lubbock Hawks were a women's professional basketball team in the National Women's Basketball League . Based in Lubbock, Texas, they played in 2005....
(2005) - Mobile MajestyMobile MajestyThe Mobile Majesty were one of the original franchises of the National Women's Basketball League . Based in Mobile, Alabama, they played in 2001....
(2001) - San Francisco LegacySan Francisco LegacyThe San Francisco Legacy the last original franchise of the National Women's Basketball League . Originally established in 2001 as the Kansas City Legacy, the franchise moved in 2003 to Knoxville, Tennessee and became the Tennessee Fury. Then in 2004 they moved to Dallas, and were known as the...
(2006, Dallas Fury 2004-05, Tennessee Fury 2003, Kansas City Legacy 2001-02) - San Diego SiegeSan Diego SiegeThe San Diego Siege was a women's professional basketball team in the now defunct National Women's Basketball League . Based in San Diego, California, they played only one season, during February and March, 2006.-Team Schedule:-External links:**...
(2006) - San Jose SpidersSan Jose SpidersThe San Jose Spiders were a women's professional basketball team in the National Women's Basketball League . Based in San Jose, California, they played from 2005 to 2006. Notable players included Brittany Jackson, Julie McBride and Lindsey Yamasaki....
(2005–06) - Springfield SpiritSpringfield SpiritThe Springfield Spirit was a women's professional basketball team in the National Women's Basketball League . Based in the birthplace of basketball, Springfield, Massachusetts, the team played from 2002 to 2004....
(2002–04)
Champions
- 2001 Atlanta JusticeAtlanta JusticeThe Atlanta Justice were one of the original franchises of the National Women's Basketball League . Based in Atlanta, Georgia, they played from 2001 to 2002. The Justice won the inaugural NWBL championship in 2001....
90-75 Birmingham PowerBirmingham PowerThe Birmingham Power was one of the original franchises of the National Women's Basketball League . Based in Birmingham, Alabama, they played from 2001 to 2005.-External links:**... - 2002 Houston StealthHouston StealthThe Houston Stealth were a women's professional basketball team in the National Women's Basketball League . Based in Houston, Texas, they played from 2002 to 2004. They won the NWBL championship in two of their three years of existence....
68-59 Chicago BlazeChicago BlazeThe Chicago Blaze were a women's professional basketball team in the National Women's Basketball League . Based in Chicago, Illinois, they played from 2002 to 2005.... - 2003 Houston StealthHouston StealthThe Houston Stealth were a women's professional basketball team in the National Women's Basketball League . Based in Houston, Texas, they played from 2002 to 2004. They won the NWBL championship in two of their three years of existence....
95-76 Tennessee Fury - 2004 Dallas Fury 73-69 Colorado ChillColorado ChillThe Colorado Chill were a professional women's basketball team playing in the National Women's Basketball League from 2004-2006. Based in Loveland, Colorado, they were Colorado's second and longest-lived women's pro basketball team...
- 2005 Colorado ChillColorado ChillThe Colorado Chill were a professional women's basketball team playing in the National Women's Basketball League from 2004-2006. Based in Loveland, Colorado, they were Colorado's second and longest-lived women's pro basketball team...
77-70 Dallas Fury - 2006 Colorado ChillColorado ChillThe Colorado Chill were a professional women's basketball team playing in the National Women's Basketball League from 2004-2006. Based in Loveland, Colorado, they were Colorado's second and longest-lived women's pro basketball team...
78-71 San Diego SiegeSan Diego SiegeThe San Diego Siege was a women's professional basketball team in the now defunct National Women's Basketball League . Based in San Diego, California, they played only one season, during February and March, 2006.-Team Schedule:-External links:**...
See also
- American Basketball LeagueAmerican 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...
- Women's American Basketball AssociationWomen's American Basketball AssociationThe Women's American Basketball Association played one season in 2002. The 2002 champions were the York City Noise. There was also an earlier, separate league of the same name, in 1984.-Clubs:* Allentown Crunch* Reading Rage* Schuylkill Syrens...
- Women's National Basketball AssociationWomen's National Basketball AssociationThe 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...
- Women's Professional Basketball LeagueWomen's Professional Basketball LeagueThe Women's Professional Basketball League was a professional women's basketball league in the United States. The league played three seasons from the fall of 1978 to the spring of 1981...