Chicago Hustle
Encyclopedia
The Chicago Hustle was a team in the Women's Professional Basketball League
(WBL) from 1978-1981. Their team colors were orange and blue. Its radio broadcaster was Les Grobstein.
The Hustle played in all three WBL seasons and led the WBL in attendance each year. In their first season, they tied Iowa for the Midwest Division Title, but the Cornets had home court advantage for the playoffs and won the series 2 games to 1. Rita Easterling was the WBL MVP that first year and led the League in Assists. Debbie Waddy-Rossow (cousin of Los Angeles Rams Wide Receiver Billy Waddy
) was the league's Leading scorer.
In their second year, the Hustle missed the playoffs. Coach Doug Bruno
left to become an assistant to Gene Sullivan
for Loyola University of Chicago's men's team and is now the DePaul
women's team coach.
In the third and final season, they added Inge Nissen from Old Dominion University
and veteran Donna Geils (now Orender) who is now the president of the WNBA. The team's play-by-play announcer for all three seasons was Les Grobstein, who is now is the radio voice of the WNBA Chicago Sky
.
The WBL disbanded in 1981 because of financial problems throughout the league, mostly due to owners who did not pay their bills and who bounced several payroll
checks to players and other employees. In 1981, the Minnesota Fillies
players who were promised paychecks by Commissioner Sherwin Fischer, only to have him not follow through, walked off the court in Chicago ten minutes before a scheduled game with the Hustle. The game was not played despite a full house at DePaul Alumni Hall, and everyone knew right then and there that the WBL was doomed.
Women's Professional Basketball League
The Women's Professional Basketball League was a professional women's basketball league in the United States. The league played three seasons from the fall of 1978 to the spring of 1981...
(WBL) from 1978-1981. Their team colors were orange and blue. Its radio broadcaster was Les Grobstein.
The Hustle played in all three WBL seasons and led the WBL in attendance each year. In their first season, they tied Iowa for the Midwest Division Title, but the Cornets had home court advantage for the playoffs and won the series 2 games to 1. Rita Easterling was the WBL MVP that first year and led the League in Assists. Debbie Waddy-Rossow (cousin of Los Angeles Rams Wide Receiver Billy Waddy
Billy Waddy
Billy Waddy is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for seven seasons for the Los Angeles Rams and the Minnesota Vikings....
) was the league's Leading scorer.
In their second year, the Hustle missed the playoffs. Coach Doug Bruno
Doug Bruno
Doug Bruno is the head coach of the DePaul Blue Demons women's basketball team. In 2008–09, he completed his 23rd season as head coach. In 2007, Bruno completed a two-year term as President of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, a position to which he was elected by his peers...
left to become an assistant to Gene Sullivan
Gene Sullivan (basketball)
Gene Sullivan was an American basketball coach and collegiate athletic director.Sullivan grew up on the Northwest Side of Chicago and attended the University of Notre Dame...
for Loyola University of Chicago's men's team and is now the DePaul
Depaul
Depaul, de Paul or DePaul may refer to:* DePaul University, is the largest Catholic university in North America located within and around Chicago, IL* Vincent de Paul* DePaul Catholic High School...
women's team coach.
In the third and final season, they added Inge Nissen from Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University is a state university located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
and veteran Donna Geils (now Orender) who is now the president of the WNBA. The team's play-by-play announcer for all three seasons was Les Grobstein, who is now is the radio voice of the WNBA Chicago Sky
Chicago Sky
The Chicago Sky is a professional basketball team based in Rosemont, Illinois, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2006 WNBA season began. The team is owned by Michael J. Alter and Margaret Stender...
.
The WBL disbanded in 1981 because of financial problems throughout the league, mostly due to owners who did not pay their bills and who bounced several payroll
Payroll
In a company, payroll is the sum of all financial records of salaries for an employee, wages, bonuses and deductions. In accounting, payroll refers to the amount paid to employees for services they provided during a certain period of time. Payroll plays a major role in a company for several reasons...
checks to players and other employees. In 1981, the Minnesota Fillies
Minnesota Fillies
Minnesota Fillies was member of the Women's Professional Basketball League from 1978-81. It was one of only 3 teams to play in all 3 seasons of the league...
players who were promised paychecks by Commissioner Sherwin Fischer, only to have him not follow through, walked off the court in Chicago ten minutes before a scheduled game with the Hustle. The game was not played despite a full house at DePaul Alumni Hall, and everyone knew right then and there that the WBL was doomed.