New Jersey Gems
Encyclopedia
The New Jersey Gems was a franchise that played in the Women's Professional Basketball League
, one of only three teams in the league to survive through all three seasons, from 1978-79 to 1980-81. The team made the league playoffs once, losing in the first round. The team played its first two seasons at the Thomas Dunn Center in Elizabeth, New Jersey
and at the South Mountain Arena
in West Orange, New Jersey
in the league's third and final season.
The league began with a player draft held in Manhattan
's Essex House
in July 1978, with eight teams participating. New Jersey selected Carol Blazejowski
from Montclair State College
, but announced while on tour in Bulgaria
with the U.S. national women's team through her coach Maureen Wendelken that she had no intention of playing professionally and that her goal was to retain her amateur standing to be able to play for the U.S. at the 1980 Summer Olympics
.
The Gems finished the 1978-79 season with a record of 9 wins and 25 losses, placing fourth in the Eastern Division and giving it the league's worst record in its debut season. Ann Meyers
, top pick in the WBL's initial draft in 1978 sat out the first season. In a November 1979 news conference held at Giants Stadium
, Meyer's agent announced that Meyers would sign a three-year contract with the Gems, with the $50,000 for the first year matching the amount she had been paid by the Indiana Pacers
in a bid to become the first woman to play in the NBA
. That year, Meyers shared Most Valuable Player honors with Molly Bolin of the Iowa Cornets
. New Jersey had a 19-17 record in the 1979-80 season, placing third in the Eastern Division. While the team had a better record than the San Francisco Pioneers, which did make it into the playoffs as the second-best team in the Western Division, only two teams from each division were eligible.
For the 1980-81 season, Meyers was joined by Carol Blazejowski
, who signed a $150,000 three-year deal, as well as by Tara Heiss of the University of Maryland
and twins Faye and Kaye Young. In the 1980-81 season. New Jersey completed the season with a record of 23 wins and 13 losses, placing second in the Coastal Division. In the first round of the playoffs, the Gems played the division-leading Dallas Diamonds
. The Gems won the first game of the series 91–86, but were swept by Dallas by scores of 92–85 and 107–88 in the final two games.
Women's Professional Basketball League
The 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...
, one of only three teams in the league to survive through all three seasons, from 1978-79 to 1980-81. The team made the league playoffs once, losing in the first round. The team played its first two seasons at the Thomas Dunn Center in Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
and at the South Mountain Arena
Richard J. Codey Arena
The Richard J. Codey Arena at South Mountain is an ice hockey and ice skating arena in West Orange, New Jersey. The arena is named for former Governor of New Jersey Richard Codey...
in West Orange, New Jersey
West Orange, New Jersey
West Orange is a township in central Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 46,207...
in the league's third and final season.
The league began with a player draft held in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
's Essex House
Essex House
-Buildings:* Essex House - a historic house in London* Jumeirah Essex House - a luxury hotel in New York City...
in July 1978, with eight teams participating. New Jersey selected Carol Blazejowski
Carol Blazejowski
Carol Ann Blazejowski , nicknamed "The Blaze", is a retired women's professional basketball player and the former President and General Manager of the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association .-Family:Blazejowski is the daughter of Leon and Grace Blazejowski...
from Montclair State College
Montclair State University
Montclair State University is a public research university located in the Upper Montclair section of Montclair, the Great Notch area of Little Falls, and Clifton, New Jersey. As of October 2009, there were 18,171 total enrolled students: 14,139 undergraduate students and 4,032 graduate students...
, but announced while on tour in Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
with the U.S. national women's team through her coach Maureen Wendelken that she had no intention of playing professionally and that her goal was to retain her amateur standing to be able to play for the U.S. at the 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
.
The Gems finished the 1978-79 season with a record of 9 wins and 25 losses, placing fourth in the Eastern Division and giving it the league's worst record in its debut season. Ann Meyers
Ann Meyers
Ann Meyers Drysdale is a retired American basketball player and sportscaster. She was a standout player in high school, college, the Olympic Games, international tournaments, and the professional levels.Meyers was the first player to be part of the U.S. national team while still in high school...
, top pick in the WBL's initial draft in 1978 sat out the first season. In a November 1979 news conference held at Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
, Meyer's agent announced that Meyers would sign a three-year contract with the Gems, with the $50,000 for the first year matching the amount she had been paid by the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
in a bid to become the first woman to play in the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. That year, Meyers shared Most Valuable Player honors with Molly Bolin of the Iowa Cornets
Iowa Cornets
The Iowa Cornets was a team that played for two seasons in the Women's Professional Basketball League. The team made it to the league's championship series both seasons, falling to the Houston Angels in 1978-79 and to the New York Stars in 1979-80...
. New Jersey had a 19-17 record in the 1979-80 season, placing third in the Eastern Division. While the team had a better record than the San Francisco Pioneers, which did make it into the playoffs as the second-best team in the Western Division, only two teams from each division were eligible.
For the 1980-81 season, Meyers was joined by Carol Blazejowski
Carol Blazejowski
Carol Ann Blazejowski , nicknamed "The Blaze", is a retired women's professional basketball player and the former President and General Manager of the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association .-Family:Blazejowski is the daughter of Leon and Grace Blazejowski...
, who signed a $150,000 three-year deal, as well as by Tara Heiss of the University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
and twins Faye and Kaye Young. In the 1980-81 season. New Jersey completed the season with a record of 23 wins and 13 losses, placing second in the Coastal Division. In the first round of the playoffs, the Gems played the division-leading Dallas Diamonds
Dallas Diamonds (basketball)
For the football team of the same name, see Dallas Diamonds.The Dallas Diamonds were a team in the Women's Professional Basketball League from 1979 to 1981 and the Women's American Basketball Association abbreviated WABA) in 1984.The star of both incarnations of the team was Nancy Lieberman, an...
. The Gems won the first game of the series 91–86, but were swept by Dallas by scores of 92–85 and 107–88 in the final two games.