1978 WBL draft explained
The 1978 WBL draft was the 1st annual draft of the Women's Professional Basketball League (WBL).[1] The draft was held on July 18, 1978, at the Essex House in New York City, New York,[2] before the 1978–79 season.
The draft consisted of a five-round college phase of 1978 seniors and a five-round draft of free agents.[2] [3]
Draft selections and draftee career notes
Several players decided against signing with the WBL to keep their Olympics eligibility ahead of the 1980 Olympics. Ann Meyers from UCLA was selected first overall by the Houston Angels[4] but decided against signing with the Angels to keep her amateur status. However, in the fall of 1979, Meyers signed a no-cut $50,000 training camp contract with the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association. After being cut by the Pacers before the start of the regular season, she finally joined the WBL and signed with the New Jersey Gems. Carol Blazejowski also decided to keep her amateur status and did not join the league until the 1980–81 season, following the United States boycott of the 1980 Olympics.[5] [6]
Few of the selections where of the promotional aspect and never played a game in the WBL. The New York Stars selects CBS-Sports host Phyllis George with their last pick of the free agent draft. The Iowa Cornets selected 6'11" Gwen Bachman Hayes and the Chicago Hustle selected Sandy Allen, the world's tallest woman at 7'7".[7]
The lone pick from outside the United States was Uljana Semjonova of the Soviet Union.[8]
Key
College draft
Chicago Hustle
Houston Angels
Iowa Cornets
| Round | Player | Pos. | Nationality | School/club team |
|---|
| 1 | | C | | Illinois State[10] |
| 2 | | C | | East Stroudsburg |
| 3 | | | | Cal State-Long Beach |
| 4 | | | | Miami Dade-South |
| 5 | | | | Prairie View A&M | |
Milwaukee Does
| Round | Player | Pos. | Nationality | School/club team |
|---|
| 1 | | C | | Southeastern[11] |
| 2 | | | | UCLA |
| 3 | | | | Colorado |
| 4 | | PG | | Delta State |
| 5 | | | | Eastern Kentucky | |
Minnesota Fillies
New Jersey Gems
| Round | Player | Pos. | Nationality | School/club team |
|---|
| 1 | | F | | Mountclair State |
| 2 | | | | Immmaculata |
| 3 | | PG | | Maryland |
| 4 | | | | Stanford |
| 5 | [14] | | | Montclair State | |
New York Stars
Dayton Rockettes
Free agent draft
Chicago Hustle
| Round | Player | Pos. | Nationality | School/club team |
|---|
| 1 | | G | | Mississippi |
| 2 | | | | UNLV |
| 3 | [16] | | | Middle Tennessee |
| 4 | | C | | N/A |
| 5 | | | | Mississippi College | |
Houston Angels
Iowa Cornets
| Round | Player | Pos. | Nationality | School/club team |
|---|
| 1 | | C | | Oauchita Baptist |
| 2 | | | | Charleston, S.C. College |
| 3 | | | | Berry College |
| 4 | | | | Nebraska |
| 5 | | C | | TTT Riga | |
Milwaukee Does
| Round | Player | Pos. | Nationality | School/club team |
|---|
| 1 | | | | Tennessee |
| 2 | | | | Mississippi University |
| 3 | | | | S.E. Louisiana State |
| 4 | [17] | | | Michigan State |
| 5 | | | | S.W. Missouri State | |
Minnesota Fillies
| Round | Player | Pos. | Nationality | School/club team |
|---|
| 1 | | | | Urbana |
| 2 | | | | Kentucky |
| 3 | | | | Millikin |
| 4 | | | | Western Washington |
| 5 | | | | St. Cloud State | |
New Jersey Gems
| Round | Player | Pos. | Nationality | School/club team |
|---|
| 1 | | | | New Hampshire |
| 2 | | | | C.W. Post |
| 3 | | | | Immaculata |
| 4 | [18] | | | Olivet-Michigan |
| 5 | | | | Drexel | |
New York Stars
| Round | Player | Pos. | Nationality | School/club team |
|---|
| 1 | [19] | F | | Queens College |
| 2 | [20] | | | Arizona State (traded) |
| 3 | | | | CCNY |
| 4 | | | | Queens College |
| 5 | | | | Denton-Texas | |
Dayton Rockettes
| Round | Player | Pos. | Nationality | School/club team |
|---|
| 1 | | | | University of the District of Columbia |
| 2 | | | | Shaw |
| 3 | | | | Michigan State |
| 4 | | | | Maryland |
| 5 | | | | Virginia | |
Notes and References
- News: Kiri Oler . The story of the first Women’s Professional Basketball League draft . 4 November 2023 . The Next . 2 September 2023.
- News: Women's loop will hold draft . 18 October 2023 . . . 8 July 1978 . 10 . Newspapers.com.
- News: Women's basketball draft list released . 18 October 2023 . . . 19 July 1978 . D2 . Newspapers.com.
- News: UCLA woman first draft pick . 18 October 2023 . . . 21 July 1978 . 7 . Newspapers.com.
- News: Phil Pepe . Carol, the Blaze, big loser in games boycott . 19 October 2023 . . 24 January 1980 . 23C . Newspapers.com.
- News: The Blaze signs with Gems . 19 October 2023 . . . 29 October 1980 . B1 . Newspapers.com.
- News: Greg Schmalz . Can WBL lure Blaze? . 20 October 2023 . . 19 July 1978 . D1 . Newspapers.com.
- News: Mark Neuzil . Will Phyllis have to go 1-on-1 against Ulina? . 20 October 2023 . . 19 July 1979 . 4B . Newspapers.com.
- News: Women's pro league left her cold . 22 October 2023 . . . 12 December 1978 . C3 . Newspapers.com.
- News: Draft surprises Charlotte Lewis . 19 October 2023 . . 22 July 1978 . 13 . Newspapers.com.
- News: Forrest, Williams are drafted by WBL . 19 October 2023 . The Era-Leader . 26 July 1978 . 17 . Newspapers.com.
- Book: Stew Thornley . Marc Hugunin . Minnesota Hoops . 2006 . . 978-0873515740.
- News: Richard Mudry . Spartans' Langley excited about pro pick . 20 October 2023 . . 19 July 1978 . 3C . Newspapers.com.
- News: Szeremeta signs to play for Gems . 2 November 2023 . . 14 November 1978 . C3 . Newspapers.com.
- News: Tucker Mitchell . Pros draft Tina Price . 2 November 2023 . . 19 July 1978 . 1C . Newspapers.com.
- News: Women's pro league drafts 2 local stars . 2 November 2023 . . 19 July 1978 . 28 . Newspaper.com.
- News: Mick McCabe . DeBoer can pick her court - law or basketball . 22 October 2023 . . 22 July 1978 . 2C . Newspapers.com.
- News: Mark Katz . Rockettes make first player deal . 22 October 2023 . . 19 October 1978 . 31 . Newspapers.com.
- News: Terry Price . Harriet Novarr shoots for bit time basketball . 2 November 2023 . . 21 January 1979 . 8C . Newspapers.com.
- News: Warren Collier . Fifth quarter . 22 October 2023 . . 28 August 1978 . 13 . Newspapers.com.
