Mad Seasons: The Story of the First Women's Professional Basketball League, 1978-1981

by Karra Porter

As the popularity of womens basketball burgeons, Karra Porter reminds us in Mad Seasons that todays Womens National Basketball Association, or WNBA had its origins in a ragtag league twenty years earlier. Porter tells the story of the Womens Professional Basketball League WBL, which pioneered a new era of womens sports. Porters book takes us into the heart of the WBL as teams struggled with nervous sponsors, an uncertain fan base, and indifferent sportswriters. Despite bouncing paychecks, having to sleep on floors, and being stranded on road games, the players endured and thrived. A story of hardship and sacrifice, but also of dedication and love for the game, Mad Seasons brings the WBL back to life and shows in colorful detail how this short-lived but pioneering league ignited the imagination of a new generation of female athletes and fans.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction

368 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 3, 2006

Reviews

[Jennifer Puccini · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars 🌟

The writing and the pacing could have been better, but this book is important if for no other reason than the content it covers and the reminder of how far we've come in terms of professional women's sports in this country. The content was fascinating and all the first hand accounts of the WBL and primary research done for this book is impressive, making this book an absolute treasure, especially for those interested in women's basketball 🏀

[Joe Sosnoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great history of a little known era of women’s basketball! Sure you’ve heard of Nancy Lieberman, Anne Meyers and Carol Blazejowski but how about what about Machine Gun Bolin, Liz the Whiz, Pearl the Earl, the New England Gulls, Chicago Hustle, Iowa Cornets, Minnesota Fillies, Milwaukee Does, a senseless murder, and more?

Strongly recommend for the woman’s hoops fan. Fascinating look at the first attempt of a professional women’s basketball league.

[Kb · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Milwaukee Does might be the most Wisconsin thing ever.

An enjoyable (but not comprehensive) look at the first US women's professional basketball league.