[1] 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.

Ann Meyers, top pick by the Houston Angels[3] in the WBL's initial draft in 1978 sat out the first season.

[4] That year, Meyers shared Most Valuable Player honors with Molly Bolin of the Iowa Cornets.

However, the team added Carol Blazejowski, who signed a $150,000 three-year deal, as well as by Tara Heiss of the University of Maryland and twins Faye and Kaye Young.