World Team Tennis is a league of team tennis in the United States. The league was established in 1974 as Professional World Team Tennis and suspended play after the 1978 season. 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. Tennis balls This article is about the sport, tennis. ... Billie Jean King (née Moffit) is a professional tennis player. ... 1984 is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

History

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 Freedoms (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.

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.

1992-1999

In 1992, the current name World TeamTennis was adopted.

2000-present

In 2000, the current logo was adopted.

The league consists of 12 teams:

New York Sportimes, Houston Wranglers, Delaware Smash, New York Buzz, Boston Lobsters, Philadelphia Freedom, Sacramento Capitals, St. Louis Aces, Hartford Foxforce, Kansas City Explorers, Springfield Lasers, Newport Beach Breakers

Champions

• 1974 Denver Racquets 55-48 Philadelphia Freedoms
• 1975 Pittsburgh Triangles 74-64 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

External Link

World Team Tennis (official site)