World TeamTennis

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World TeamTennis
World TeamTennis
Sport Tennis
Founded 1973
Country(ies) Flag of the United States United States

World TeamTennis is a league of team tennis in the United States.

Contents

[edit] First league

The league was founded in 1973 by George MacCall (who became its first commissioner), Larry King (who became the owner of San Francisco based Golden Gaters), Dennis Murphy (who also founded the World Hockey Association), Fred Barman (a Hollywood agent) with Chief Financial Officer Jim Jorgensen (who became President of the Soviet Union National Team). The league began play in May of 1974 with 16 teams and suspended play after the 1978 season.

League format included; a colored no-line court, a 44 match season and 6 player teams (3 men and 3 women) playing 5 one-set no-ad matches women’s singles and doubles, men’s singles and doubles and mixed doubles – thus making it the first professional sports league to give equal weight to men and women in the scoring.

The league included such players as Rod Laver, Billie Jean King, Björn Borg, Chris Evert, John McEnroe, Evonne Goolagong and Jimmy Connors.

It was the first professional sports experience for Jerry Buss (eventual owner of Los Angeles Lakers NBA team and the Los Angeles Kings NHL team) and for Bob Kraft (owner of the New England Patriots NFL team).

Elton John wrote the theme song for the Philadelphia team, “Philadelphia Freedom”, and the Soviet Union National Team became the first USSR team to participate in a US based sports league.

[edit] Second league

The league resumed play in 1981 as TeamTennis and has fluctuated between four and twelve professional teams since then. In 1992, the name was changed again to World TeamTennis (WTT). In 2005, twelve professional teams competed.

Billie Jean King became commissioner of the league in 1984 following her retirement from competition, eventually retiring as commissioner in February 2001. In February 2001, Ilana Kloss became the new WTT commissioner, a position which she currently holds.

[edit] History

[edit] 1974-1978

  • Baltimore Banners (1974)
  • Boston Lobsters (1974)
  • Chicago Aces (1974)
  • Cleveland Nets (1974-1977) / New Orleans Nets (1978)
  • Denver Racquets (1974) / Phoenix Racquets (1975-1978)
  • Detroit Loves (1974) / Indiana Loves (1975-1978)
  • Florida Flamingos (1974)
  • Hawaii Leis (1974-1976) / Sea-Port Cascades (1977) / Seattle Cascades (1977)
  • Houston E-Z Riders (1974)
  • Los Angeles Strings (1974-1978)
  • Minnesota Buckskins (1974)
  • New York Sets (1974-1976) / New York Apples (1977-1978)
  • Philadelphia Freedom (1974) / Boston Lobsters (1975-1978)
  • Pittsburgh Triangles (1974-1976)
  • San Francisco Golden Gaters (1974-1978)
  • Toronto-Buffalo Royals (1974)
  • San Diego Friars (1975-1978)
  • Soviet National Team (Pennsylvania Keystones) (1977)
  • Anaheim Oranges (1978)

The Soviet National team was originally named the Pennsylvania Keystones and were to play in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. The name was changed before the beginning of the season.

[edit] 1981-1991

Professional league play resumed in 1981 as TeamTennis with four California teams, expanding to eight teams in 1982. In 1985, a recreational league for non-professionals was added which was co-branded with the professional league.

[edit] 1992-1999

In 1992, the current name World TeamTennis was adopted.

[edit] 2000-present

In 2000, the current logo was adopted.

In 2005 & 2006 the league consisted of 12 teams and in 2007 the Hartford FoxForce ceased operations.

The league consists of 12 teams, after the Washington Kastles joined in 2008:

[edit] Eastern Conference

[edit] Western Conference

[edit] Champions

  • 1974 Denver Racquets 55-45 Philadelphia Freedoms
  • 1975 Pittsburgh Triangles 74-65 San Francisco Golden Gaters
  • 1976 New York Sets 91-57 San Francisco Golden Gaters
  • 1977 New York Apples 55-39 Phoenix Racquets
  • 1978 Los Angeles Strings 108-93 Boston Lobsters
  • 1979-1980 Play suspended
  • 1981 Los Angeles Strings
  • 1982 Dallas Stars
  • 1983 Chicago Fyre
  • 1984 San Diego Buds
  • 1985 San Diego Buds
  • 1986 San Antonio Racquets
  • 1987 Charlotte Heat
  • 1988 Charlotte Heat
  • 1989 San Antonio Racquets
  • 1990 Los Angeles Strings
  • 1991 Atlanta defeated Los Angeles
  • 1992 Atlanta defeated Newport Beach
  • 1993 Wichita defeated Newport Beach
  • 1994 New Jersey defeated Idaho
  • 1995 New Jersey Stars 28-20 Atlanta Thunder
  • 1996 St. Louis Aces defeated Delaware Smash
  • 1997 Sacramento Capitals (regular season record, championship match rained out)
  • 1998 Sacramento Capitals 30-13 New York OTBzz
  • 1999 Sacramento Capitals defeated Springfield Lasers
  • 2000 Sacramento Capitals
  • 2001 Philadelphia Freedoms defeated Springfield Lasers
  • 2002 Sacramento Capitals
  • 2003 Delaware Smash
  • 2004 Newport Beach Breakers defeated Delaware Smash
  • 2005 New York Sportimes defeated Newport Beach Breakers 21-18
  • 2006 Philadelphia Freedom defeated Newport Beach Breakers 21-14
  • 2007 Sacramento Capitals defeated New York Buzz 24-20

[edit] Sources

[edit] External links

Languages