San Francisco Pioneers (WBL)
The San Francisco Pioneers were an American professional basketball team that played two seasons in the Women's Professional Basketball League (WBL) from 1979 to 1981.[1] The first women's professional basketball team in San Francisco, California, it was owned by a stockbroker named Marshall Geller and partners, including Alan Alda and Mike Conners, and played its home games at the San Francisco Civic Auditorium.[2] Geller, who named the team,[1] and his ownership group acquired the basketball team for a $100,000 expansion fee.[2]
| San Francisco Pioneers | |
|---|---|
| Division | Western Division (1979–1980) Coastal Division (1980–1981) |
| League | Women's Professional Basketball League |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Folded | 1981 |
| History | San Francisco Pioneers 1979–1981 |
| Arena | San Francisco Civic Auditorium (1979-1981) |
| Location | San Francisco, CA |
| Team colors | Columbia Blue, yellow, white |
History edit
1979–80 edit
In their first season, the Pioneers roster was composed primarily of standout players who had competed at colleges and universities in California.[3] Coached by Frank LaPorte, the Pioneers finished their first regular season with an 18-18 record. After winning a first round playoff game against the Houston Angels, their season concluded after losing to the eventual WBL champion, the New York Stars.[1] Marshall Geller was named the WBL Owner of the Year.[4]
Anita Ortega, a graduate of University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), finished the Pioneers first season as the leading point scorer with 867 points,[5] an average of 24.1 points per game,[3] and the team's leader in assists, with 187.[5] Kim Hansen, a graduate of Grand Valley State, was the team's top rebounder, pulling down 383 rebounds, and Pat Mayo, a graduate of Montclair State, led the team in steals, with 199.[5]
1980–81 edit
Approximately two months into their second season, LaPorte was fired and replaced by a former National Basketball Association (NBA) player, Dean Meminger. During the previous season, Meminger, as the coach of the New York Stars, had won the WBL title.[2] The Pioneers finished their second, and final, season with a record of 14-22.[6] In their second season, "Machine Gun" Molly Bolin, a graduate of Grandview College, led the Pioneers in scoring, finishing with 733 points,[5] a 26.8 points per game average.[7] Doris Draving, a graduate of East Stroudsbourg State, led the team in rebounding, pulling down 314 rebounds, and Cardie Hicks, a graduate of California State University, Northridge, led the team in assists, with 126.[5]
Season-by-season record edit
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, W–L% = Winning percentage
Individual awards edit
WBL All-Pro team
- Anita Ortega - 1980
- Cindy Haugejorde - 1981
- Molly Bolin - 1981
- Pat Mayo - 1980
WBL All-Star
- Anita Ortega - 1980
- Cindy Haugejorde - 1981
- Cardie Hicks - 1981
- Molly Bolin - 1981
- Pat Mayo - 1980
Head coaches edit
- Frank LaPorte (1979–1980)
- Dean Meminger (1980–1981)
References edit
- ^ a b c Ostler, By Scott. "'We were pioneers': Long before WNBA, San Francisco had trailblazing pro team". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ a b c Crossley, Drew (2013-02-17). "San Francisco Pioneers". Fun While It Lasted. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ a b Baker, Tee (2023-10-14). "Professional women's basketball in Bay Area began with Pioneers". The Next. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ "Women's Professional Basketball League History". www.apbr.org. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ a b c d e "San Francisco Pioneers women's basketball Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "San Francisco Pioneers". Rebound Vintage Hoops. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ Johnson, Roy S. "The lady is a hot shot". Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com. Retrieved 2024-02-19.