New Jersey Gems
| New Jersey Gems | |
|---|---|
 | |
| League | WBL |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Dissolved | 1981 |
| Arena | Thomas Dunn Center (1978–1980) South Mountain Arena (1980–81) |
| Location | Elizabeth, New Jersey (1978–1980) West Orange, New Jersey (1980–81) |
| Team colors | blue, orange, white |
The New Jersey Gems was a franchise that played in the Women's Professional Basketball League (WBL), one of only three teams in the league to survive through all three seasons, from 1978–79 to 1980–81. The team made the league playoffs once, losing in the first round. The team played its first two seasons at the Thomas Dunn Center in Elizabeth, New Jersey and at the South Mountain Arena in West Orange, New Jersey in the league's third and final season.[1]
History
The league began with a player draft held in Manhattan's Essex House in July 1978, with eight teams participating. New Jersey selected Carol Blazejowski from Montclair State College, but announced while on tour in Bulgaria with the U.S. national women's team through her coach Maureen Wendelken that she had no intention of playing professionally and that her goal was to retain her amateur standing to be able to play for the U.S. at the 1980 Summer Olympics.[2]
The Gems finished the 1978–79 season with a record of 9 wins and 25 losses, placing fourth in the Eastern Division and giving it the league's worst record in its debut season.
For the 1980–81 season, Meyers left the club over non-payment of wages. However, the team added
See also
References
- ^ "Local Debut a Loss For Miss Lieberman". The New York Times. 9 December 1980. p. C16. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
and the mother was in the stands among a crowd of 1100 in the South Mountain Arena, the new home of the New Jersey Gems.
- ^ Herman, Robin. "For Female Basketball, A Bid Bounce Forward; At the Telephone Wages Up in the Air", The New York Times, July 19, 1978. Accessed August 4, 2010.
- ^ WBL Media Guide
- ^ Yannis, Alex. "Miss Meyers Agrees To Sign With Gems; No Staff Weather Person", The New York Times, November 15, 1979. Accessed August 4, 2010.
- ^ Seidman, Carrie "Another Season, Another Struggle for W.B.L.; Last Season's Finalists Fold 'Challenge of My Life' 'Guaranteed' Salaries 'Sure, We're Struggling'", The New York Times, December 7, 1980. Accessed August 4, 2010.
- ^ Bradley, Robert. HISTORY OF THE WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE, The Association for Professional Basketball Research. Accessed August 4, 2010.