The American Basketball League, often abbreviated to the ABL of 1996 was a professional women's basketball league in the United States. At the same time the ABL was being formed, the National Basketball Association (NBA) was creating the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The ABL began league competition in the Fall of 1996, while the WNBA launched its first game in June 1997. Both organizations came into existence during a surge in popularity for women's basketball in the United States that followed the perfect 35–0 national championship season for the Connecticut Huskies in 1995[3] and the undefeated, gold medal-winning performance of the United States Women's basketball team at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
The ABL lasted two full seasons: 1996–97 and 1997–98. The Atlanta Glory and Long Beach Stingrays folded prior to the start of the 1998–99 season, and were replaced by two expansion teams, the Chicago Condors and Nashville Noise. On December 22, 1998, with almost no warning, the ABL declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy and suspended operations. Each team had played between 12 and 15 games of the 1998–99 season.
The ABL got off the ground before the WNBA, and at least early on its quality of play was higher than the rival league. This was partly due to the league's signing of a majority of players from the 1996 USA women's national team. Although the WNBA was bankrolled by the NBA, the ABL offered higher salaries. The two leagues did not compete directly; the ABL played during the winter while the WNBA played during the summer. However, this arrangement put the ABL in competition with the established men's NBA for an audience. Ultimately, the ABL found the WNBA's stronger financial resources—augmented by the NBA's marketing machine—to be too much to overcome.
The league operated as a single-entity structure, which was intended to control costs until it found its feet. However, it also meant that even the most basic decisions related to team operations had to go through the league office in Palo Alto, California. League officials were so fixated on national sponsorships that they hamstrung the teams' efforts to market themselves locally. The ABL was also underfinanced. Allison Hodges, general manager of the short-lived Condors, later told The New York Times that she was led to believe league officials rejected her marketing ideas because they clashed with its national focus, only to find out that the league did not have enough money to finance them. Hodges also believed the league had already planned to shut down before announcing the Chapter 11 filing.[4]
The 1996–97 ABL All-Star Game was played on December 15, 1996, at the Hartford Civic Center. The Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference, 81–65, and the game's MVP was Tari Phillips.[5]
The 1998–99 ABL All-Star Game was scheduled to be played on January 24, 1999, in San Jose, California, but was canceled when the league ceased operations in December 1998.[6]
John Sage's ABL webpage capture, containing old interviews, articles, and final statistics
ABL on APBR.org website
All-Star cards
February 22, 2023
american, basketball, league, 1996, 1998, other, uses, american, basketball, league, american, basketball, league, often, abbreviated, 1996, professional, women, basketball, league, united, states, same, time, being, formed, national, basketball, association, . For other uses see American Basketball League The American Basketball League often abbreviated to the ABL of 1996 was a professional women s basketball league in the United States At the same time the ABL was being formed the National Basketball Association NBA was creating the Women s National Basketball Association WNBA The ABL began league competition in the Fall of 1996 while the WNBA launched its first game in June 1997 Both organizations came into existence during a surge in popularity for women s basketball in the United States that followed the perfect 35 0 national championship season for the Connecticut Huskies in 1995 3 and the undefeated gold medal winning performance of the United States Women s basketball team at the 1996 Summer Olympics American Basketball League ABL SportBasketballFounded1995Inaugural season1996 97Ceased1998Owner s Steve Hams Anne Cribbs and Gary CavalliCEOGary CavalliCOOSteve Hams 1996 97 Jim Weyermann 1998 DirectorTracey WilliamsMotto Real Basketball No of teams9CountryUnited StatesMost titles2 Columbus Quest TV partner s SportsChannel BET Fox Sports NetSponsor s ReebokNotes 1 2 The ABL lasted two full seasons 1996 97 and 1997 98 The Atlanta Glory and Long Beach Stingrays folded prior to the start of the 1998 99 season and were replaced by two expansion teams the Chicago Condors and Nashville Noise On December 22 1998 with almost no warning the ABL declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy and suspended operations Each team had played between 12 and 15 games of the 1998 99 season The ABL got off the ground before the WNBA and at least early on its quality of play was higher than the rival league This was partly due to the league s signing of a majority of players from the 1996 USA women s national team Although the WNBA was bankrolled by the NBA the ABL offered higher salaries The two leagues did not compete directly the ABL played during the winter while the WNBA played during the summer However this arrangement put the ABL in competition with the established men s NBA for an audience Ultimately the ABL found the WNBA s stronger financial resources augmented by the NBA s marketing machine to be too much to overcome The league operated as a single entity structure which was intended to control costs until it found its feet However it also meant that even the most basic decisions related to team operations had to go through the league office in Palo Alto California League officials were so fixated on national sponsorships that they hamstrung the teams efforts to market themselves locally The ABL was also underfinanced Allison Hodges general manager of the short lived Condors later told The New York Times that she was led to believe league officials rejected her marketing ideas because they clashed with its national focus only to find out that the league did not have enough money to finance them Hodges also believed the league had already planned to shut down before announcing the Chapter 11 filing 4 Of all the ABL cities Chicago Seattle and Atlanta now have WNBA teams Contents 1 1996 98 clubs 2 Seasons 2 1 1996 97 2 2 1997 98 2 3 1998 99 3 Notable players 4 See also 5 References 6 External links1996 98 clubs EditSeasons Edit1996 97 Edit Eastern Conference W L PCTColumbus Quest 31 9 775Richmond Rage 21 19 525Atlanta Glory 18 22 450New England Blizzard 16 24 400 Western Conference W L PCTColorado Xplosion 25 15 625San Jose Lasers 18 22 450Seattle Reign 17 23 425Portland Power 14 26 350 The 1996 97 ABL All Star Game was played on December 15 1996 at the Hartford Civic Center The Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference 81 65 and the game s MVP was Tari Phillips 5 SemifinalsFinals E1Columbus2W2San Jose0E1Columbus3E2Richmond2E2Richmond2W1Colorado01997 98 Edit Eastern Conference W L PCTColumbus Quest 36 8 818New England Blizzard 24 20 545Atlanta Glory 15 29 341Philadelphia Rage 13 31 295 Western Conference W L PCTPortland Power 27 17 614Long Beach Stingrays 26 18 591Colorado Xplosion 21 23 477San Jose Lasers 21 23 477Seattle Reign 15 29 341 The 1997 98 ABL All Star Game was played on January 18 1998 at Disney s Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista Florida The Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference 102 73 First RoundSemifinalsFinalsE1Columbus2E2New England0W4San Jose0W4San Jose2E1Columbus3W2Long Beach2W1Portland0W2Long Beach2W2Long Beach2W3Colorado11998 99 Edit Eastern Conference W L PCTColumbus Quest 11 3 786Philadelphia Rage 9 5 643Chicago Condors 4 8 333Nashville Noise 4 11 267New England Blizzard 3 10 231 Western Conference W L PCTPortland Power 9 4 692San Jose Lasers 9 6 600Seattle Reign 8 7 533Colorado Xplosion 5 8 387 The 1998 99 ABL All Star Game was scheduled to be played on January 24 1999 in San Jose California but was canceled when the league ceased operations in December 1998 6 Notable players EditJennifer Azzi Debbie Black Cindy Brown Edna Campbell Sylvia Crawley Teresa Edwards Tonya Edwards now head coach at Alcorn State University Shalonda Enis Jackie Joyner Kersee the Olympic champion long jumper and heptathlete Molly Goodenbour Yolanda Griffith Sonja Henning Kedra Holland Corn Shannon Johnson Carolyn Jones Young Venus Lacy Andrea Lloyd Curry Stacey Lovelace Michelle M Marciniak Nikki McCray Carla McGhee Chasity Melvin Delisha Milton Taj McWilliams Franklin Kate Paye now an assistant coach at Stanford University Tari Phillips Elaine Powell Katrina Price Jennifer Rizzotti now the President of the Connecticut Sun Crystal Robinson Saudia Roundtree Sheri Sam Katie Smith now an assistant coach for the Minnesota Lynx Charlotte Smith now the head coach at Elon University Dawn Staley now the head coach at the University of South Carolina Katy Steding Kate Starbird Sonja Tate Val Whiting Natalie Williams Kara WoltersSee also EditNational Women s Basketball League Women s American Basketball Association Women s National Basketball Association Women s Professional Basketball League American Basketball League 1996 1998 on televisionReferences Edit History of the American Basketball League apbr org Association for Professional Basketball Research Retrieved April 6 2018 American Basketball League Human Resources Manual funwhileitlasted com American Basketball League 1997 Retrieved April 6 2018 The 1995 Connecticut Huskies The Team That Made Women s Basketball The Big Lead Retrieved 2016 04 17 Former Team Official Recounts the A B L s Dizzying Descent West beat East according to Spokesman SHOCK EnShocklopedia A Women s National Basketball Association External links EditJohn Sage s ABL webpage capture containing old interviews articles and final statistics ABL on APBR org website All Star cards Professional basketball research Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title American Basketball League 1996 1998 amp oldid 1102811780, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
