2008 World TeamTennis season explained

2008 World TeamTennis season
League:World TeamTennis
Sport:Team tennis
Duration:July 3–27, 2008
No Of Matches:Regular season: 77 (14 for each team)
Postseason: 4
No Of Teams:11
Tv:Versus
Tennis Channel
Draft:Draft
Top Pick: Lindsay Davenport
Picked By:Newport Beach Breakers
Season:Regular season
Top Seed:Kansas City Explorers
Mvp: (Female MVP) (Kansas City)
Season2:Eastern Conference
Season Champs2:New York Buzz
Second Place2:New York Sportimes
Season3:Western Conference
Season Champs3:Kansas City Explorers
Second Place3:Sacramento Capitals
Conf1:Eastern Conference
Conf2:Western Conference
Finals:World TeamTennis Final
Finals Venue:Allstate Stadium at Westfield Galleria at Roseville
Finals Champ:New York Buzz
Finals Runner-Up:Kansas City Explorers
Finals Mvp Name:Championship MVP
Finals Mvp: Rennae Stubbs (Kansas City)
Seasonslistnames:World TeamTennis
Prevseason Link:2007 World TeamTennis season
Prevseason Year:2007
Nextseason Link:2009 World TeamTennis season
Nextseason Year:2009

The 2008 World TeamTennis season was the 33rd season of the top professional team tennis league in the United States.

The New York Buzz defeated the Kansas City Explorers, 21–18, in the WTT Final to win the King Trophy as WTT champions.

Competition format

The 2008 World TeamTennis season included 11 teams split into two conferences (Eastern and Western). The Eastern Conference had six teams, and the Western Conference had five teams. Each team played a 14-match regular-season schedule with seven home and seven away matches. The top teams in each conference were the conference champions. WTT Championship Weekend matches were played at Allstate Stadium at Westfield Galleria at Roseville in Roseville, California. The conference champions and runners-up qualified for the playoffs. In addition, there was a wild-card team that was either the host team (the Sacramento Capitals) or the team with the best record among teams that did not finish first or second in their conference, if the Capitals qualified based on finishing first or second. The teams were seeded 1 through 5, regardless of conference, with the top three seeds getting a bye to the WTT Semifinals. The fourth seed and the wild card met in a wild card match with the winner facing the number 1 seed in the semifinals. The other semifinal match pitted the number 2 seed against the number 3 seed. The winners of the semifinal matches met in the WTT Final to decide the winner of the King Trophy and the league championship. Higher seeded teams were treated as "home" teams in playoff matches and had the right to determine order of play.[1] [2]

Franchise contraction and expansion

The Houston Wranglers folded following the 2007 season. Owner Linda McIngvale said, "This is not the right type of community for the Wranglers. We're just too big of a city with too many options. There's a jillion other things to do in the summertime in Houston." The team sold fewer than half of the 4,500 available tickets for a match that featured Anna Kournikova playing for the visitors. Late in the 2007 season, attendance at Wranglers' home matches was typically less than 1,000.[3]

The Washington Kastles joined the league as an expansion franchise, making their debut in 2008. The team was founded by a group led by venture capitalist and entrepreneur Mark Ein, a native of Washington, D.C. At the press conference announcing the team's creation, Ein said, "I am thrilled to bring World TeamTennis to our area. WTT tennis is great entertainment emphasizing fan interaction, and it is the only major sport with men and women playing together on the same team. The Washington Kastles season will be an exciting summertime addition to our local economy and a fun activity for our entire community." The team was named after Kastle Systems, LLC, a provider of building and office security systems, of which Ein is the majority owner and managing member.[4]

Drafts

Marquee player draft

The 2008 WTT Marquee Player Draft was conducted in New York City on March 19, 2008. The order in which teams selected was based on the results the teams achieved in 2007 with weaker teams selecting earlier and stronger teams selecting later. The draft order is ordinarily determined as follows:

  1. Nonplayoff teams ranked from worst regular-season record to best
  2. Conference championship loser with the worse record of the two
  3. Conference championship loser with the better record of the two
  4. WTT Final loser
  5. WTT champion

Expansion teams select in the middle of each round. If there is an even number of teams, an expansion team selects in the middle position that is closest to the first pick. There were seven nonplayoff teams in 2007, and ranked from worst record to best record, they were

  1. Houston Wranglers
  2. Newport Beach Breakers
  3. St. Louis Aces
  4. Boston Lobsters
  5. New York Sportimes
  6. Delaware Smash
  7. Kansas City Explorers

However, the Wranglers folded prior to the draft. Therefore, the Breakers, Aces, Lobsters, Sportimes, Smash and Explorers were assigned the preliminary first through sixth draft positions. The Philadelphia Freedoms lost the 2007 Eastern Conference Championship Match and had a worse record than the Springfield Lasers, who lost the Western Conference Championship Match. Therefore, the Freedoms were assigned the preliminary seventh draft position and the Lasers the eighth. The New York Buzz lost the 2007 WTT Final and were assigned the preliminary ninth draft position. The 2007 WTT champion Sacramento Capitals were assigned the preliminary tenth draft position. The addition of the expansion Washington Kastles resulted in 11 teams in the league, and the Kastles were assigned the sixth draft position putting them in the middle with five teams drafting before them, and five teams drafting after them. This resulted in the Explorers, Freedoms, Lasers, Buzz and Capitals each moving down one position.

Teams could protect up to two marquee players or doubles teams to which they held the rights from the previous season or acquired in a trade. Rights to marquee players could be traded from one team to another before or during the draft, and the acquiring team could protect and then select those players. The selections made[5] are shown in the tables below.

First round
Player chosenNotes
1 N
2 Y
3 N
4 Y
5 Pass
6 N
7 Y Doubles team
8 Y
9 Pass
10 Pass
11 Pass
Second round
Player chosenNotes
1 Pass
2 N
3 Pass
4 Pass
5 Pass
6 Pass
7 Pass
8 Pass
9 Pass
10 Pass
11 Pass

Roster player draft

The 2008 WTT Roster Player Draft was conducted in Miami on April 1, 2008. Teams selected in the same order as was determined for the Marquee Player Draft. Teams could protect up to four players to which they held the rights from the previous season or acquired in a trade. Rights to roster players could be traded from one team to another before or during the draft, and the acquiring team could protect and then select those players. In addition, the rights to make a selection in a particular position within the draft could be traded from one team to another. The selections made[6] are shown in the tables below.

First round
Player chosen
1 Y
2 N
3 N
4 N
5 N
6 N
7 N
8 Y
9 Y
10 N
11 Y
Second round
Player chosen
1 N
2 N
3 Y
4 Y
5 N
6 N
7 N
8 Y
9 N
10 N
11 Y
Third round
Player chosen
1 N
2 N
3 N
4 Y
5 Y
6 N
7 N
8 N
9 Y
10 Y
11 N
Fourth round
Player chosen
1 Y
2 N
3 N
4 N
5 N
6 N
7 Y
8 N
9 Y
10 N
11 Y

Notes:

Roster-Exempt Player Draft

WTT conducted its 2008 Roster-Exempt Player Draft on the same day as its Roster Player Draft. Teams drafted in the same order as in the Marquee Player Draft and the Roster Player Draft. Teams were permitted to select part-time players classified by the league as either roster-exempt based on their recent appearances in international team events or featured roster players based on WTT's discretion. The selections made are shown in the table below.

Player chosenNotes
1 Pass
2 Pass
3 Pass
4 Pass
5 Y
6 Pass
7 Pass
8 Pass
9 Pass
10 Pass
11 N Featured roster player

Event chronology

Off-season

Regular season

Playoffs

Standings

Reference:[26]

Eastern Conference
Team
1 14 10 4 .714 0
2 14 10 4 .714 0
3 14 7 7 .500 3
4 14 7 7 .500 3
5 14 6 8 .429 4
6 14 3 11 .214 7
Western Conference
Team
1 14 13 1 .929 0
2 14 8 6 .571 5
3 14 5 9 .357 8
4 14 5 9 .357 8
5 14 3 11 .214 10

Results table

Abbreviation and Color Key:
Boston Lobsters – BOS • Delaware Smash – DEL • Kansas City Explorers – KAN • New York Buzz – NYB
New York Sportimes – NYS • Newport Beach Breakers – NPB • Philadelphia Freedoms – PHI
Sacramento Capitals – SAC • Springfield Lasers – SPR • St. Louis Aces – STL • Washington Kastles – WASWin Loss Home Away
TeamMatch
1234567891011121314<--Win : bgcolor=#DFE7FFscoreLoss: bgcolor=#FFDFDFscore-->
Boston LobstersNYS NYB DEL WAS PHI NYB NYS KAN SPR PHI WAS NPB NPB SAC
  bgcolor=#FFDFDF18–1916–23 23–19
(OT)
22–19
(OT)
21–22
(STB,
6–7)
19–20
(STB,
4–7)
23–17 17–22 23–19
(OT)
23–15 23–14
(OT)
18–21
(OT)
18–16
(OT)
13–21
Delaware SmashNYB STL WAS BOS PHI PHI NYS SPR SPR KAN SAC PHI WAS NYB
  bgcolor=#FFDFDF16–2421–20 19–21
(OT)
19–23
(OT)
15–25
(OT)
17–19 17–22
(OT)
20–19
(STB,
7–6)
21–23 20–22
(OT)
18–20
(OT)
12–23 20–16 9–25
Kansas City ExplorersSAC NPB SPR SAC STL STL BOS NYB PHI DEL WAS STL SPR NPB
  bgcolor=#DFE7FF22–2120–18
(OT)
24–19
(OT)
25–15 22–18 25–17
(OT)
22–17 17–23 23–18
(OT)
22–20
(OT)
24–13 20–19
(STB,
7–6)
23–16 23–16
New York BuzzDEL STL BOS NYS WAS WAS BOS PHI KAN SAC PHI NYS STL DEL
  bgcolor=#DFE7FF24–1623–18 23–16 20–22
(OT)
22–21
(STB,
7–4)
21–22
(STB,
4–7)
20–19
(STB,
7–4)
18–22
(OT)
23–17 23–20
(OT)
15–25 23–11 25–13 25–9
New York SportimesBOS PHI NYB WAS DEL PHI BOS PHI WAS SPR NPB NYB NPB SAC
  bgcolor=#DFE7FF19–1821–18
(OT)
22–20
(OT)
21–20 22–17
(OT)
19–18
(STB,
7–5)
17–23 21–15 17–18
(STB,
5–7)
24–19
(OT)
22–14 11–23 17–15
(OT)
19–20
Newport Beach BreakersSAC KAN SPR STL SPR SAC WAS SAC STL NYS BOS BOS NYS KAN
  bgcolor=#DFE7FF21–16
(OT)
18–20
(OT)
18–22 18–22
(OT)
19–15 20–21
(STB,
3–7)
16–18 23–16 23–14 14–22 21–18
(OT)
16–18
(OT)
15–17
(OT)
16–23
Philadelphia FreedomsWAS SPR NYS DEL DEL BOS NYS NYB NYS KAN BOS NYB WAS DEL
  bgcolor=#FFDFDF19–23
(OT)
22–23
(STB,
2–7)
18–21
(OT)
25–15
(OT)
19–17 22–21
(STB,
7–6)
18–19
(STB,
5–7)
22–18
(OT)
15–21 18–23
(OT)
15–23 25–15 23–19
(OT)
23–12
Sacramento CapitalsNPB KAN STL SPR KAN SPR NPB NPB STL WAS NYB DEL BOS NYS
  bgcolor=#FFDFDF16–21
(OT)
21–22 22–21 19–22 15–25 18–14 21–20
(STB,
7–3)
16–23 25–12 20–15 20–23
(OT)
20–18
(OT)
21–13 20–19
Springfield LasersSTL PHI KAN NPB SAC NPB SAC DEL DEL BOS NYS STL STL KAN
  bgcolor=#DFE7FF23–21
(OT)
23–22
(STB,
7–2)
19–24
(OT)
22–18 22–19 15–19 14–18 19–20
(STB,
6–7)
23–21 19–23
(OT)
19–24
(OT)
23–24
(STB,
5–7)
10–25 16–23
St. Louis AcesSPR DEL NYB SAC NPB KAN KAN SAC NPB SPR SPR KAN NYB WAS
  bgcolor=#FFDFDF21–23
(OT)
20–21 18–23 21–22 22–18
(OT)
18–22 17–25
(OT)
12–25 14–23 24–23
(STB,
7–5)
25–10 19–20
(STB,
6–7)
13–25 17–22
(OT)
Washington KastlesPHI DEL BOS NYB NYS NYB NPB NYS SAC BOS KAN PHI DEL STL
  bgcolor=#DFE7FF23–19
(OT)
21–19
(OT)
19–22
(OT)
21–22
(STB,
4–7)
20–21 22–21
(STB,
7–4)
18–16 18–17
(STB,
7–5)
15–20 14–23
(OT)
13–24 19–23
(OT)
16–20 22–17
(OT)

Playoff bracket

*Indicates match went to overtime

Playoff match summaries

All playoff matches were played as part of WTT Championship Weekend at Allstate Stadium at Westfield Galleria at Roseville in Roseville, California. Higher seeded teams (shown in CAPS below) were treated as "home" teams and had the right to determine the order of play.

Wild Card Match

July 24: #4 SACRAMENTO CAPITALS 22, #5 Boston Lobsters 15

WTT Semifinals

July 25: #1 KANSAS CITY EXPLORERS 21, #4 Sacramento Capitals 10

July 26: #2 NEW YORK BUZZ 25, #3 New York Sportimes 17 (overtime)

WTT Final

July 27: #2 New York Buzz 21, #1 KANSAS CITY EXPLORERS 18

Individual honors

Reference: [27]

AwardRecipientTeam
Female Most Valuable Player Kansas City Explorers
Male Most Valuable Player Newport Beach Breakers
Female Rookie of the Year New York Buzz
Male Rookie of the Year Philadelphia Freedoms
Coach of the Year Kansas City Explorers
WTT Championship Most Valuable Player Kansas City Explorers

Television

There were seven WTT regular-season matches telecast nationally on the Tennis Channel. These matches all featured marquee players and were recorded and premiered between two and eight days after they were played. The WTT Final was telecast live on Versus. It was the first live telecast of the WTT Final since 2004. Select matches shown on the Tennis Channel were also rebroadcast by regional sports networks.[28]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: World TeamTennis 2008 Season Set for July 3 – 23. World TeamTennis. November 15, 2007. November 4, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161104203741/http://www.wtt.com/page.aspx?article_id=544. November 4, 2016. dead. mdy-all.
  2. Web site: World TeamTennis Championship Weekend Returns to Sacramento, July 24–27. World TeamTennis. December 12, 2007. November 4, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161104203827/http://www.wtt.com/page.aspx?article_id=560. November 4, 2016. dead. mdy-all.
  3. Web site: Pro Tennis' Wranglers Folding after Struggling to Find Fans. Houston Chronicle. Robertson. Dale. July 25, 2007. November 6, 2016.
  4. Web site: World TeamTennis Adds Team, Washington Kastles, in Washington, D.C.. World TeamTennis. February 14, 2008. November 4, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161104203650/http://www.wtt.com/page.aspx?article_id=621. November 4, 2016. dead. mdy-all.
  5. Web site: John McEnroe Returns for 8th WTT Season. World TeamTennis. March 19, 2008. November 5, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161104203743/http://www.wtt.com/page.aspx?article_id=681. November 4, 2016. dead. mdy-all.
  6. Web site: WTT Finalizes Rosters at WTT Player Draft. World TeamTennis. April 1, 2008. November 5, 2016.
  7. Web site: Lobsters Ashore. Duggan. Dan. Boston Herald. March 18, 2008. December 26, 2016.
  8. Web site: Boston Lobsters Tennis Team Moving to Middleton Club. Leighton. Paul. The Salem News. March 18, 2008. December 26, 2016.
  9. Web site: Freedoms Name King of Prussia Mall New Home. March 19, 2008. World TeamTennis. January 7, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170108002419/http://www.wtt.com/page.aspx?article_id=684. January 8, 2017. dead. mdy-all.
  10. Web site: Tennis Stadium to be Built on Former Convention Center Site. World TeamTennis. April 30, 2008. February 4, 2017.
  11. Web site: New Kastles Tennis Team Will Play at Old Convention Center Site. April 30, 2008. The Washington Times. February 4, 2008.
  12. Web site: World TeamTennis Has a Home in District. May 1, 2008. Clarke. Liz. The Washington Post. February 4, 2008.
  13. Web site: Kastles Win First Ever Match!. July 4, 2008. World TeamTennis. February 5, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170206103657/http://www.wtt.com/page.aspx?article_id=864. February 6, 2017. dead. mdy-all.
  14. Web site: On Opening Night, a Net Success. Viera. Mark. July 9, 2008. The Washington Post. February 12, 2017.
  15. Web site: Serena Forces Overtime in First Ever Home Match but Kastles Fall 22-19. World TeamTennis. February 12, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170213163631/http://www.wtt.com/page.aspx?article_id=871. February 13, 2017. dead. mdy-all.
  16. Web site: New York Buzz @ New York Sportimes . . July 8, 2008 . October 6, 2016 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20081011125551/http://wtt.ids-sports.com/stats/113.html . October 11, 2008 .
  17. Web site: Kastles Rally to Beat Buzz. July 12, 2008. The Daily Gazette. Schenectady, New York. February 14, 2017.
  18. Web site: New York Sportimes @ Boston Lobsters . . July 13, 2008 . November 25, 2016 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20081011131624/http://wtt.ids-sports.com/stats/132.html . October 11, 2008 .
  19. Web site: New York Buzz @ Kansas City Explorers . . July 15, 2008 . October 9, 2016 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20081011130932/http://wtt.ids-sports.com/stats/141.html . October 11, 2008 .
  20. Web site: Delaware Smash @ Washington Kastles . . July 22, 2008 . February 12, 2017 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20081011130526/http://wtt.ids-sports.com/stats/165.html . October 11, 2008 .
  21. Web site: Lobsters Clinch Playoff Spot!. July 23, 2008. World TeamTennis. February 12, 2008.
  22. Web site: Sacramento Advances at WTT Championship Weekend. World TeamTennis. July 24, 2008. November 6, 2016.
  23. Web site: Kansas City Explorers Advance to 2008 WTT Final. World TeamTennis. July 25, 2008. November 6, 2016.
  24. Web site: New York Buzz Advances to WTT Final with 25-17 Win over New York Sportimes. World TeamTennis. July 26, 2008. November 6, 2016.
  25. Web site: New York Buzz Capture First World TeamTennis Title with 21-18 Win over Kansas City Explorers. World TeamTennis. July 27, 2008. November 6, 2016.
  26. Web site: 2008 Team Standings. World TeamTennis. January 2, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170103235739/http://www.wtt.com/page.aspx?article_id=1355. January 3, 2017. dead. mdy-all.
  27. Web site: Delgado, Stubbs Capture World TeamTennis MVP Honors. World TeamTennis. July 25, 2008. November 6, 2016.
  28. Web site: World TeamTennis Matches to Air on Tennis Channel and Versus. World TeamTennis. June 18, 2014. January 2, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170510134022/http://www.wtt.com/MediaCenter/PDF/TV%20release%202008%20FINAL.pdf. May 10, 2017. dead. mdy-all.