Seattle Reign
Encyclopedia
The Seattle Reign was the first women's professional basketball
franchise in Seattle, Washington. The Reign was a charter member of the American Basketball League
(ABL). The team played from 1996 through 1998. The team's name was a punning reference to the city's reputation for precipitation and its location in "King" County
, with an accidental-on-purpose allusion to "The Reign Man" Shawn Kemp
, then the city's biggest basketball star.
The Reign played most of its home games in the Mercer Arena
, part of Seattle Center
, but occasionally the team played at the larger Key Arena, home of the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics
. The Arena was an old-fashioned, intimate setting for a basketball game, but its seating capacity of about 5,000 limited the team's upside attendance potential.
In the team's inaugural season, the Reign drafted 1996 Olympic team veteran Venus Lacy
to play center, but Lacy was generally outshone by the team's other two "big women", Cindy Brown and Tari Phillips
. (This was the case even before February 4, 1997, when Lacy was lost for the season due to a severe car injury.) The starting point guard for most games was Christy Hedgpeth, and Kate Paye
was the shooting guard.
In the team's second season, with some fanfare, the team drafted Stanford small forward Kate Starbird
, who had been a local prep star at Tacoma's Lakes High School
. An even bigger impact player proved to be the University of Alabama
's Shalonda Enis, who was named the ABL's Rookie of the Year for the 1997-98 season.
From 1997 on, the ABL faced serious competition from the deeper-pocketed WNBA. Fifteen games into the Reign's third season, on December 22, 1998 the ABL suddenly reached a financial crisis and folded its operations. Ironically, the Reign was in the midst of its only winning season, and had only weeks before scored their most memorable victory, a double-overtime win before an enthusiastic crowd of 7,400 at the Key Arena, over the San Jose Lasers
, led by Jennifer Azzi
.
Luckier than most localities that had an ABL team, Seattle was quickly awarded a WNBA franchise two years later. The Seattle Storm
debuted in 2000, and won the WNBA Championship four years later in 2004.
Shalonda Enis (All-ABL 2nd Team 1998)
Tari Phillips
(ABL All-Star game MVP, 1997-1998)
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...
franchise in Seattle, Washington. The Reign was a charter member of the American Basketball League
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). The team played from 1996 through 1998. The team's name was a punning reference to the city's reputation for precipitation and its location in "King" County
King County, Washington
King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
, with an accidental-on-purpose allusion to "The Reign Man" Shawn Kemp
Shawn Kemp
Shawn T. Kemp is a former American professional basketball player, who played in the National Basketball Association for 14 seasons. He was a six-time NBA All-Star and a three-time All-NBA Second Team member.-Early years:...
, then the city's biggest basketball star.
The Reign played most of its home games in the Mercer Arena
Mercer Arena
Mercer Arena, previously known as the Exposition Building, the Civic Ice Arena and Seattle Center Arena, is a performing arts venue located at the corner of Mercer Street Fourth Avenue North in Seattle, Washington. It was built in 1912 next door to the Seattle Civic Auditorium , as part of the $1...
, part of Seattle Center
Seattle Center
Seattle Center is a park and arts and entertainment center in Seattle, Washington. The campus is the site used in 1962 by the Century 21 Exposition. It is located just north of Belltown in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood.-Attractions:...
, but occasionally the team played at the larger Key Arena, home of the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
. The Arena was an old-fashioned, intimate setting for a basketball game, but its seating capacity of about 5,000 limited the team's upside attendance potential.
In the team's inaugural season, the Reign drafted 1996 Olympic team veteran Venus Lacy
Venus Lacy
Venus Lacy , born on February 9, 1967 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a former star basketball player, at the high school, college, Olympic and professional levels. A wide-bodied, muscular 6'-4" center, at her best Lacy was an intimidating force inside the paint, both scoring and rebounding...
to play center, but Lacy was generally outshone by the team's other two "big women", Cindy Brown and Tari Phillips
Tari Phillips
Tari L. Phillips is a professional basketball player. She currently plays with Acer ERG Priolo, an Italian A1 team based in Priolo Gargallo, Sicily...
. (This was the case even before February 4, 1997, when Lacy was lost for the season due to a severe car injury.) The starting point guard for most games was Christy Hedgpeth, and Kate Paye
Kate Paye
Kate Paye is a former collegiate and professional basketball player. She is currently an assistant coach for the women's basketball team at Stanford University.- Early life and college career :...
was the shooting guard.
In the team's second season, with some fanfare, the team drafted Stanford small forward Kate Starbird
Kate Starbird
Kate Starbird is a former professional basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association and the American Basketball League ....
, who had been a local prep star at Tacoma's Lakes High School
Lakes High School
Lakes High School is located in Lakewood, Washington. It serves students from 9th grade to 12th grade. It is one of the two major high schools in the Clover Park School District.-Daffodil Festival:...
. An even bigger impact player proved to be the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
's Shalonda Enis, who was named the ABL's Rookie of the Year for the 1997-98 season.
From 1997 on, the ABL faced serious competition from the deeper-pocketed WNBA. Fifteen games into the Reign's third season, on December 22, 1998 the ABL suddenly reached a financial crisis and folded its operations. Ironically, the Reign was in the midst of its only winning season, and had only weeks before scored their most memorable victory, a double-overtime win before an enthusiastic crowd of 7,400 at the Key Arena, over the San Jose Lasers
San Jose Lasers
The 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....
, led by Jennifer Azzi
Jennifer Azzi
Jennifer Lynn Azzi is the head coach of the women's basketball team at the University of San Francisco. Azzi is a former collegiate and professional basketball player.-College years:...
.
Luckier than most localities that had an ABL team, Seattle was quickly awarded a WNBA franchise two years later. The Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
debuted in 2000, and won the WNBA Championship four years later in 2004.
Team Record
| Season | W | L | Win % | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 17 | 23 | .425 | 3rd Place, Western Conference |
| 1997-98 | 15 | 29 | .340 | 5th Place, Western Conference |
| 1998 | 8 | 7 | .533 | 3rd Place, Western Conference |
All-Star Players
Cindy Brown (All-ABL 2nd Team 1997)Shalonda Enis (All-ABL 2nd Team 1998)
Tari Phillips
Tari Phillips
Tari L. Phillips is a professional basketball player. She currently plays with Acer ERG Priolo, an Italian A1 team based in Priolo Gargallo, Sicily...
(ABL All-Star game MVP, 1997-1998)