San Francisco Pioneers

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Text on Button SAN FRANCISCO PIONEERS
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A white background featuring a gold Golden Gate Bridge and light blue water underneath wherein lies gold text. Underneath is light blue text and a gold volleyball for the O in Pioneers

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The San Francisco Pioneers were a professional basketball team in the Women's Professional Basketball League. The league played for 3 seasons between 1978 and 1981. WBL is considered to be the first professional women's basketball league in the United States. There were 8 teams in operation for the first season, Chicago Hustle, Dayton Rockettes, Houston Angels, Iowa Cornets, Milwaukee Does, Minnesota Fillies, New Jersey Gems, and New York Stars. The San Francisco Pioneers joined hte league in 1979, along with 4 other teams.

The league was disbanded in 1981 following the US lead ban on the 1980 Olympics held in Moscow. It was the hope of Bill Byrne, the league founder, that the Olympics would showcase the league's stars and gain popularity. The boycott prevented these plans and due to poor attendance it was decided to end the WBL in 1981.

Catalog ID SP0011