FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (June 5, 2018) – Before the WNBA, there was the Women's Professional Basketball League (WBL). In fact before there were any professional basketball opportunities in the United States for women, there stood the WBL.
As the first professional women's basketball league in the U.S., the WBL was ahead of its time. For that reason, the entire league will be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (WBHOF) this Saturday, June 9, as the ninth team or organization to be recognized as "Trailblazers of the Game."
Truly living up to the definition of "trailblazer," the Northern Arizona women's basketball program will have a presence at the Class of 2018 WBHOF induction in Knoxville, Tenn. with their own Hall of Famer, Peggy Kennedy, in attendance. Kennedy, a 1984 inductee into the Northern Arizona University Hall of Fame, played one season in the WBL and will be among the contingent of nearly 100 former WBL pioneers set to appear.
"It's amazing and it's such an honor," Kennedy said. "With the whole league going in as one as 'trailblazers,' we're thrilled and overjoyed. This is historical and I can't wait to reunite with many of the players I played with and against."
The WBL spanned three seasons from 1978-81 and despite being short-lived, the league was pivotal in growing the sport. With the sport of women's basketball possibly at its peak here in the states, a lot of its ever-growing growing success can be attributed to the WBL – something that Kennedy never saw coming.
"I could not have even imagined (the impact) this league would have," Kennedy said. "Playing in this league, along with Title IX, provided hope to so many girls, and 40 years later, I never thought (the sport) would be as big as it is. A lot of it can be attributed to the colleges as well and the exposure."
After finishing her career at NAU in 1979 as the school's career leader in points and rebounds, Kennedy sought out the assistance of former NAU Sports Information Director Sally Coughanour in helping her get entered into the WBL Draft leading into the league's second season.
To her surprise, Kennedy was selected in the 10th and final round of the 1979 WBL Draft by the Chicago Hustle. Ironically, it would be a homecoming for her as Kennedy's parents were living in Schaumburg, Ill.
"It was so cool because it was my hometown team," Kennedy said. "All the papers picked it up because I graduated from Schaumburg High School. That made it all the much better."
After making the Chicago Hustle roster as a last round draft pick, Kennedy would split part of her only season in the league with the Hustle before being traded to the Milwaukee Does. Although her career in the WBL was brief, the NAU Hall of Famer has nothing but fond memories of life as a professional athlete.
"Being in the world of a professional athlete; it was mind-boggling the stars we met," Kennedy said. "Of course we knew the Chicago Bulls. Everything we did from appearances to photoshoots – you name it – it was wild. It was the best ride a human could take and it's stayed with me until today."
"This Saturday, we go into the Hall of Fame as a family and we all contributed in our own way without even realizing the impact it would have," Kennedy added. "Seeing girls and women in any sport today, the acceleration of professional sports is incredible. I'm glad I was part of the beginning."
Kennedy was one of five players from the Intermountain Conference – NAU's affiliation at the time – to make it to the league that year.
The WBL, although short in years, was filled with notable names and WBHOF inductees including Ann Meyers Drysdale, Carol Blazejowski, Nancy Lieberman and Muffet McGraw among many others.
A former Division I collegiate player herself, NAU head coach
Loree Payne sees this weekend's enshrinement of the WBL into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame as monumental – especially given the Lumberjack feel it will have.
"For the game, they absolutely paved the way for so many young female athletes who had goals of playing collegiately and professionally," Payne said. "Fortunately for where we're at – we're not there yet in terms of equity – we do have opportunities that were not there. Hats off to them for standing up and doing what hadn't been done before."
"It's awesome to have representation of our program there," Payne said of Kennedy. "Peggy has invested so much into this program and is so connected. This huge honor is really special for her and NAU women's basketball."
The 2018 induction will mark the 20th anniversary of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. Ceal Barry (Coach), Dr. Rose Marie Battaglia (Veteran Contributor), Chris Dailey (Contributor-Assistant Coach), Mickie DeMoss (Contributor-Assistant Coach), Chamique Holdsclaw (Player), Katie Smith (Player) and Tina Thompson (Player) will each be inducted individually before the WBL is recognized as the "Trailblazers of the Game."
The ceremony will be streamed live on
ESPN3 starting at 4 p.m. MST.
