In a dramatic WBL game, New Jersey Gems' Ann Meyers and Houston Angels' Paula Mayo fiercely contested a rebound, captured in a historic photograph. This moment symbolizes the rough-and-tumble spirit of the Women's Professional Basketball League, which played its final game 45 years ago, on 20 April 1981. Despite lasting only three groundbreaking seasons from 1978 to 1981, the WBL established the first-ever women's professional basketball league in the United States, setting the stage for today's WNBA stars.
The Draft Drama That Shaped a League
On the eve of the 1980 WBL draft in New York City, the Dallas Diamonds faced a pivotal decision with the No 1 pick. Coach Greg Williams favoured Inge Nissen, a 6ft 5in Danish star, while General Manager Nancy Nichols championed Nancy Lieberman, the American point guard dubbed "Lady Magic." Nichols recalls intense debates, culminating in a creative midnight plea: she dangled a paper with Lieberman's name from her window to Williams's using coat hangers, urging him to "look out your window and see if there are any signs from above!"
The next morning, team owner Mike Staver, reportedly after a night of drinking, arrived just in time to announce the selection: "The Dallas Diamonds are proud to draft ... Nancy Lieberman." Lieberman, fresh from two college championships at Old Dominion, went on to win Rookie of the Year that season, validating Nichols's persistence. However, the WBL folded after the 1980-81 season, marking the end of a brief but influential era.
Pioneers and Challenges in a New Frontier
Founded by Bill Byrne, the WBL started with eight teams in cities like Chicago, Houston, and Des Moines, mirroring the ABA's volatile expansion. Attendance varied wildly, with the Diamonds drawing 700 fans on good nights initially, but crowds grew to 3,500 by their third season. Nichols reflects on the league's struggles, citing overexpansion and financial woes, yet emphasises its significance: "I can't describe what it's like to be a pro without a league," says three-time WBL All-Star Molly (Bolin) Kazmer.
Kazmer, the first player ever signed by the WBL on 30 June 1978 in the Iowa governor's office, epitomised the league's talent. A scoring phenom from Moravia, she dropped 63 points in a high school game on her 16th birthday and later averaged 32.8 points per game in her second WBL season, earning co-MVP with Ann Meyers. Her Iowa Cornets reached the first two WBL finals, losing both, buoyed by Iowa's progressive women's sports policies dating back to 1925.
Memorable Moments and Celebrity Support
WBL seasons ran from November to April, with teams traveling coast-to-coast. Kazmer recalls harrowing experiences, such as an emergency water landing in New York City and a "biblical flood" in Houston before a finals game, where players waded waist-deep in water. Despite these challenges, she says, "We knew we were pioneers, making it happen. We took that responsibility very seriously."
The league garnered support from sports icons like Billie Jean King, who tossed a ceremonial jump ball for the Chicago Hustle in 1979, and Martina Navratilova, who did the same for the Diamonds' first home game. Navratilova notes, "The women of the WBL were the trailblazers of women's professional basketball ... Without the WBL, there may not have been a WNBA." Dallas Cowboys players also attended games, showing early allyship in a male-dominated sports landscape.
Legacy and Rediscovery of a Forgotten Era
After the WBL's dissolution, other leagues like the WABA and ABL emerged, but the WNBA, launched in 1997, became the enduring successor. Today, women's basketball thrives with stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, yet the WBL's contributions risk being overlooked. Nichols laments that the league has been "forgotten," but efforts like the Legends of the Ball organization and a potential documentary aim to preserve its history.
Kazmer, who has recently shared her story at WNBA and Unrivaled events, reflects, "How do you know how far you came if you don't know where it started." The WBL's 17 Hall of Famers and nine Olympians, including Lieberman and Meyers, laid a crucial foundation, proving that even a short-lived league can ignite a lasting revolution in sports.
