Miami Sol
Encyclopedia
The Miami Sol was a women's basketball
team which joined the Women's National Basketball Association
(WNBA) in 2000. They played their games at American Airlines Arena. The team folded after the 2002 season because of financial problems. They were the former sister team to the Miami Heat
.
Conference Championships:
WNBA Championships:
, their combination of veteran leadership in Debbie Black
, Elena Baranova
and Sandy Brondello
as well youth in Ruth Riley
and Sheri Sam
, lead them to the playoffs in 2001, but lost in the first round to the New York Liberty
in 3 games. This was the only playoff appearance for the Sol.
After losing to the New York Liberty
in the playoffs, the Miami Sol finished the 2002 season with a 15-17 record. This season proved to be the Sol's last. Citing the inability to raise enough funds to continue operation under the WNBA's new restructuring agreement, the organization ceased operations. The team finished with a franchise record of 48 wins and 48 losses.
The other Florida team, the Orlando Miracle
, also folded at the end of the 2002 season.
A new team, the Connecticut Sun
, joined the league in 2003 with a nickname and logo which were extremely reminiscent of the Miami Sol. However, the new Connecticut Sun franchise was actually the successor to the Orlando Miracle, who managed to find new ownership.
Since the folding of the Miami Sol, former members of the team have found success elsewhere. After being reassigned to the Detroit Shock
, Ruth Riley
won two WNBA championships
in 2003 and 2006. Betty Lennox
and Sandy Brondello won a WNBA championship with the Seattle Storm
in 2004, with Lennox winning the WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player award.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team which joined the Women's National Basketball Association
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
(WNBA) in 2000. They played their games at American Airlines Arena. The team folded after the 2002 season because of financial problems. They were the former sister team to the Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
.
Uniforms
Fiery red, with the team name emblazoned in white on the chest and a WNBA ball in place of the hole in the letter "O". The home jerseys featured the same design, only with the colors inverted.Playoff history
Playoff Appearances: 2001Conference Championships:
WNBA Championships:
History
In their short history, the Miami Sol put together a talented roster of players. Coached for three seasons by Ron RothsteinRon Rothstein
Ronald "Ron" Rothstein is an American professional basketball coach and former college basketball player, who has led many different NBA teams. He served as the first head coach for the Miami Heat, and later coached the Detroit Pistons. He has also coached in the Women's National Basketball...
, their combination of veteran leadership in Debbie Black
Debbie Black
Debbie Black is an assistant coach for the Ohio State University's women's basketball team and a former professional basketball player. During her professional career, Black played for the Women's National Basketball League in Australia, the American Basketball League and the Women's National...
, 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...
and Sandy Brondello
Sandy Brondello
Sandra Anne Brondello is an Australian women's basketball player who played in Australia and the WNBA before retiring to become a coach, most recently with the San Antonio Silver Stars of the WNBA. The 1.70 m Brondello is one of Australia's all-time best shooting guards...
as well youth in Ruth Riley
Ruth Riley
Ruth Ellen Riley is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Silver Stars in the Women's National Basketball Association . Her Notre Dame team won the NCAA women's championship in 2001, and her Detroit Shock team won the WNBA championship in 2003 and 2006...
and Sheri Sam
Sheri Sam
Sheri Lynette Sam is an American professional basketball player currently playing in the WNBA. She was born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana on May 5, 1974 as the youngest of eight siblings, and where she was a standout at Acadiana High School. She graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1996...
, lead them to the playoffs in 2001, but lost in the first round to the New York Liberty
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...
in 3 games. This was the only playoff appearance for the Sol.
After losing to the New York Liberty
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...
in the playoffs, the Miami Sol finished the 2002 season with a 15-17 record. This season proved to be the Sol's last. Citing the inability to raise enough funds to continue operation under the WNBA's new restructuring agreement, the organization ceased operations. The team finished with a franchise record of 48 wins and 48 losses.
The other Florida team, the Orlando Miracle
Orlando Miracle
The Orlando Miracle was a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Orlando, Florida. They began play in the 1999 WNBA season. The Miracle relocated, in 2003,to Uncasville, Connecticut where the team became the Connecticut Sun...
, also folded at the end of the 2002 season.
A new team, the Connecticut Sun
Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season...
, joined the league in 2003 with a nickname and logo which were extremely reminiscent of the Miami Sol. However, the new Connecticut Sun franchise was actually the successor to the Orlando Miracle, who managed to find new ownership.
Since the folding of the Miami Sol, former members of the team have found success elsewhere. After being reassigned to the Detroit Shock
Detroit Shock
The Detroit Shock was a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They were the 2003, 2006 and 2008 WNBA champion...
, Ruth Riley
Ruth Riley
Ruth Ellen Riley is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Silver Stars in the Women's National Basketball Association . Her Notre Dame team won the NCAA women's championship in 2001, and her Detroit Shock team won the WNBA championship in 2003 and 2006...
won two WNBA championships
WNBA Finals
The WNBA Finals is the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002....
in 2003 and 2006. Betty Lennox
Betty Lennox
Betty Bernice Lennox is an American professional basketball player most recently playing for the Tulsa Shock in the WNBA. Her nicknames include "Betty Basketball," "Betty Big Buckets," and her most popular nickname "B-Money."-Childhood:Betty grew up in the small town of Grant, OK. Daughter of...
and Sandy Brondello won a WNBA championship with the Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
in 2004, with Lennox winning the WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player award.
Trivia
- The team's nickname, Sol, is Spanish and Portuguese for "sun". The name played off the city of Miami's Hispanic population and its parent NBA team, the HeatMiami HeatThe Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
.
Season-by-season records
| Season | Team | Conference | Regular Season | Playoff WNBA Playoffs The WNBA Playoffs is a best-of-three elimination tournament between eight teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association , ultimately deciding the final two teams who will play in the WNBA Finals.... Results |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | PCT | |||||
| Miami Sol | |||||||
| 2000 2000 WNBA season -External links:**... |
2000 2000 Miami Sol season The 2000 WNBA season was the 1st season for the Miami Sol.-Expansion Draft:-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:... |
East Eastern Conference (WNBA) The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference... |
6th | 13 | 19 | .406 | |
| 2001 2001 WNBA season -External links:**... |
2001 2001 Miami Sol season The 2001 WNBA season was the 2nd season for the Miami Sol. The team earned its first and only playoff berth, losing in the opening round to the New York Liberty in all three games.-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Playoffs:-Player stats:... |
East Eastern Conference (WNBA) The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference... |
3rd | 20 | 12 | .625 | Lost Conference Semifinals (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... , 1–2) |
| 2002 2002 WNBA season -External links:***... |
2002 2002 Miami Sol season The 2002 WNBA season was the 3rd and final season for the Miami Sol. The team missed the playoffs for the second and final time in their history. The team later folded after the season due to financial issues.-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:... |
East Eastern Conference (WNBA) The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference... |
6th | 15 | 17 | .469 | |
| Regular Season | 48 | 48 | .500 | 0 Conference Championships | |||
| Playoffs | 1 | 2 | .333 | 0 WNBA Championships | |||
Selected former players
- Marlies AskampMarlies AskampMarlies Askamp is a German professional basketball player. She was one of the original players to play in the U.S...
- Elena BaranovaElena BaranovaElena 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...
- Sandy BrondelloSandy BrondelloSandra Anne Brondello is an Australian women's basketball player who played in Australia and the WNBA before retiring to become a coach, most recently with the San Antonio Silver Stars of the WNBA. The 1.70 m Brondello is one of Australia's all-time best shooting guards...
- Katrina Colleton
- Debbie BlackDebbie BlackDebbie Black is an assistant coach for the Ohio State University's women's basketball team and a former professional basketball player. During her professional career, Black played for the Women's National Basketball League in Australia, the American Basketball League and the Women's National...
- Milena Flores
- Pollyanna Johns-Kimbrough
- Betty LennoxBetty LennoxBetty Bernice Lennox is an American professional basketball player most recently playing for the Tulsa Shock in the WNBA. Her nicknames include "Betty Basketball," "Betty Big Buckets," and her most popular nickname "B-Money."-Childhood:Betty grew up in the small town of Grant, OK. Daughter of...
- Carolyn MoosCarolyn MoosCarolyn Moos is an American model, personal trainer, nutrition consultant and a former collegiate and professional basketball player.Moos won a gold medal playing for the US in the Junior Olympics traveling to Frankfurt, Slovakia, Brazil and Chetumal. She lived in France for a time where she...
- Vanessa NygaardVanessa NygaardVanessa Nygaard is a former professional basketball player and a collegiate assistant coach. She is currently serving as an assistant coach with the Washington Mystics of the Women's National Basketball Association .- Stanford University :After graduating from high school in Carlsbad, California,...
- Kristen RasmussenKristen RasmussenKristen Rasmussen is a professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for CSS LMK BC Sepsi of Sfântu Gheorghe, Romania....
- Ruth RileyRuth RileyRuth Ellen Riley is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Silver Stars in the Women's National Basketball Association . Her Notre Dame team won the NCAA women's championship in 2001, and her Detroit Shock team won the WNBA championship in 2003 and 2006...
- Sheri SamSheri SamSheri Lynette Sam is an American professional basketball player currently playing in the WNBA. She was born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana on May 5, 1974 as the youngest of eight siblings, and where she was a standout at Acadiana High School. She graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1996...