1997 Utah Starzz season
Encyclopedia
The 1997 WNBA season
was the inaugural season for the Utah Starzz. The Starzz were partially named after the old ABA team, the Utah Stars
, but with the zz at the end like the Utah Jazz
). The franchise held the distinction of having the worst record in the WNBA in 1997.
1997 WNBA Season
-External links:*...
was the inaugural season for the Utah Starzz. The Starzz were partially named after the old ABA team, the Utah Stars
Utah Stars
The Utah Stars was an American Basketball Association team based in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.Under head coach Bill Sharman the Stars were the first major professional basketball team to use a pre-game shootaround.-History:...
, but with the zz at the end like the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
). The franchise held the distinction of having the worst record in the WNBA in 1997.
Initial Player Allocation
| Pick | Player | Nationality | WNBA Team | College/HS/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Elena Baranova Elena Baranova Elena Viktorovna Baranova is a Russian professional basketball player. She is a former Women's National Basketball Association player, where she became the first player from Europe in 1997 WNBA inaugural season, the first All-Star from Russia in 2001 and played for the New York Liberty until the... (C/F) |
Utah Starzz Utah Starzz The Utah Starzz were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They began play in the 1997 WNBA season as one of the league's eight original teams. The Starzz relocated, in 2003, to San Antonio, Texas where the team became the San Antonio Silver Stars... |
Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... |
|
| 16 | Lady Hardmon (G) | Utah Starzz Utah Starzz The Utah Starzz were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They began play in the 1997 WNBA season as one of the league's eight original teams. The Starzz relocated, in 2003, to San Antonio, Texas where the team became the San Antonio Silver Stars... |
Georgia University of Georgia The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States... |
WNBA Draft
| Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College/HS/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Tammi Reiss | (G) | Virginia University of Virginia The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson... |
|
Season schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Result | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 21 | Sacramento Sacramento Monarchs The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009... |
60-70 | Loss | 0-1 |
| June 23 | Los Angeles Los Angeles Sparks The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began... |
102-89 | Win | 1-1 |
| June 26 | @ Cleveland Cleveland Rockers This article is about the defunct WNBA team; for the American Basketball Association team, see Cleveland Rockers .The Cleveland Rockers were a Women's National Basketball Association team that played from 1997 until 2003. The Rockers were one of the original eight franchises of the WNBA, which... |
63-74 | Loss | 1-2 |
| June 28 | Houston Houston Comets The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and... |
58-76 | Loss | 1-3 |
| July 2 | @ Sacramento Sacramento Monarchs The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009... |
73-68 (OT) | Win | 2-3 |
| July 3 | Phoenix Phoenix Mercury The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises... |
55-77 | Loss | 2-4 |
| July 5 | New York New York Liberty The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league... |
53-66 | Loss | 2-5 |
| July 7 | Sacramento Sacramento Monarchs The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009... |
69-79 | Loss | 2-6 |
| July 11 | @ Los Angeles Los Angeles Sparks The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began... |
68-75 | Loss | 2-7 |
| July 12 | Phoenix Phoenix Mercury The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises... |
52-51 | Win | 3-7 |
| July 14 | @ Houston Houston Comets The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and... |
56-79 | Loss | 3-8 |
| July 16 | @ Charlotte Charlotte Sting The Charlotte Sting was a Women's National Basketball Association franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina and it was one of the league's eight original teams. The team folded on January 3, 2007.... |
63-75 | Loss | 3-9 |
| July 17 | @ New York New York Liberty The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league... |
54-80 | Loss | 3-10 |
| July 19 | @ Cleveland Cleveland Rockers This article is about the defunct WNBA team; for the American Basketball Association team, see Cleveland Rockers .The Cleveland Rockers were a Women's National Basketball Association team that played from 1997 until 2003. The Rockers were one of the original eight franchises of the WNBA, which... |
68-95 | Loss | 3-11 |
| July 22 | @ New York New York Liberty The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league... |
78-71 | Win | 4-11 |
| July 26 | Cleveland Cleveland Rockers This article is about the defunct WNBA team; for the American Basketball Association team, see Cleveland Rockers .The Cleveland Rockers were a Women's National Basketball Association team that played from 1997 until 2003. The Rockers were one of the original eight franchises of the WNBA, which... |
66-77 | Loss | 4-12 |
| July 30 | @ Los Angeles Los Angeles Sparks The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began... |
69-91 | Loss | 4-13 |
| August 2 | Houston Houston Comets The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and... |
74-63 | Win | 5-13 |
| August 4 | Charlotte Charlotte Sting The Charlotte Sting was a Women's National Basketball Association franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina and it was one of the league's eight original teams. The team folded on January 3, 2007.... |
73-70 | Win | 6-13 |
| August 6 | @ Phoenix Phoenix Mercury The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises... |
46-78 | Loss | 6-14 |
| August 8 | @ Sacramento Sacramento Monarchs The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009... |
78-93 | Loss | 6-15 |
| August 11 | Cleveland Cleveland Rockers This article is about the defunct WNBA team; for the American Basketball Association team, see Cleveland Rockers .The Cleveland Rockers were a Women's National Basketball Association team that played from 1997 until 2003. The Rockers were one of the original eight franchises of the WNBA, which... |
59-74 | Loss | 6-16 |
| August 12 | @ Houston Houston Comets The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and... |
56-76 | Loss | 6-17 |
| August 16 | Los Angeles Los Angeles Sparks The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began... |
64-74 | Loss | 6-18 |
| August 17 | @ Phoenix Phoenix Mercury The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises... |
63-71 (OT) | Loss | 6-19 |
| August 19 | New York New York Liberty The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league... |
81-75 | Win | 7-19 |
| August 21 | Charlotte Charlotte Sting The Charlotte Sting was a Women's National Basketball Association franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina and it was one of the league's eight original teams. The team folded on January 3, 2007.... |
56-66 | Loss | 7-20 |
| August 24 | @ Charlotte Charlotte Sting The Charlotte Sting was a Women's National Basketball Association franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina and it was one of the league's eight original teams. The team folded on January 3, 2007.... |
52-70 | Loss | 7-21 |
Player stats
- Elena Baranova ranked third in the WNBA in total rebounds with 207
- Dena Head ranked fifth in the WNBA in Free Throw Pct with .844
- Wendy Palmer ranked second in the WNBA in total rebounds with 225.
- Wendy Palmer ranked sixth in the WNBA in field goals with 157.
- Wendy Palmer ranked fourth in the WNBA in points with 443 points.
- Wendy Palmer ranked ninth in the WNBA in minutes per game with 33.4
- Wendy Palmer ranked fourth in the WNBA in points per game with 15.8
- Tammi Reiss ranked tenth in the WNBA in assists with 87.
Awards and honors
- Elena Baranova: Led WNBA, Blocks, 63
- Elena Baranova: Led WNBA , Blocks per game, 2.2
- Elena Baranova, Ranked second in the WNBA (tied), Defensive Rebounds, 151
- Wanda Guyton: Ranked second in WNBA (tied), Offensive Rebounds, 76
- Wendy Palmer: Led WNBA, Field Goal Attempts, 420
- Wendy Palmer: Ranked second in the WNBA, Free Throws, 117