Tulsa World: Team owners make formal announcement: WNBA is coming to Tulsa

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Team owners make formal announcement: WNBA is coming to Tulsa

Coach Nolan Richardson speaks at the news conference Tuesday. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World

By Staff Reports
Published: 10/20/2009 12:04 PM
Last Modified: 10/23/2009 4:12 PM

Sports Editor Mike Strain’s blog: Will you attend WNBA games in Tulsa? That’s our poll question.

Document: View a PDF of premium seating for WNBA games at the BOK Center.

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Tulsa is closing in on WNBA

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WNBA highlights played on a big-screen television, and basketballs

inscribed with “Tulsa 2010” were placed in the front of the room.

Tulsa has officially become home to a Women’s National Basketball Association franchise. An announcement was formally made on Tuesday morning at the Mayo Hotel in downtown Tulsa, where Gov. Brad Henry and Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor joined team owners.

"This is a day we're going to remember, not because of what we've accomplished, but because of what we've begun," said Bill Cameron, one of two Oklahoma City businessmen who are lead investors in the group that purchased the WNBA team.

As reported in Tuesday’s Tulsa World, the Detroit Shock – a team that has won three championships – will relocate to Tulsa. Home games will be played a the BOK Center, and tickets are available at tulsaworld.com/wnba or by calling 877-90-Hoops (46677). Complete ticket information wasn't available, but season tickets start at $25 per seat -- a cost of $425 for the 17 home dates in the regular season.

According to the WNBA, the average ticket price in 2009 was $18 per seat.

The name and the color scheme of Tulsa's new team hasn't yet been revealed. David Box, an Oklahoma City businessman who joined Cameron as a lead investor in Tulsa Pro Hoops LLC, indicated the team's name and colors will be up to fans.

"You all are going to be a part from start to finish, because it's your team," Box said.

Tulsa’s WNBA team will play its inaugural season in 2010. The WNBA’s seasons are in summer, and in 2009, the regular season lasted from early June to mid-September. At Tuesday press conference, officials said the team would play its first game in May, but a schedule hasn't been released.

A large blue canvas served as a backdrop for Tuesday’s announcement. Emblazoned all over the canvas: WNBA logos and “TULSA”.

"We applaud the leadership of Tulsa, of this great state, and we're excited for what will come in a state that really does have great basketball tradition," said WNBA President Donna Orender.

The WNBA is the highest level of women’s professional basketball and includes 45 Olympians in the league.

Tulsa’s announcement of a team comes a year after Oklahoma City started its first season with an NBA franchise. The Oklahoma City Thunder played its inaugural season in 2008-09 and will open its 2009-10 regular season on Oct. 28 with a home game against Sacramento.

Cameron is part of the Thunder's ownership group.

"Bill Cameron is a longtime friend and a valuable member of the Thunder ownership group," Thunder Chairman and CEO Clay Bennett said in a statement released by the team. "We congratulate him on his leadership in bringing the WNBA to Tulsa."

Taylor said the effort to bring a team to Tulsa has been ongoing for about two years. Henry said he believes Oklahoma will embrace the team.

"I am very confident that the WNBA franchise in Tulsa will in fact be a league leader, and it's so exciting," Henry said.

Nolan Richardson was named the team's coach and general manager last month. Richardson was a men's basketball coach at the University of Tulsa in the early 1980s and went on to win a national championship at Arkansas in 1994.

He will be a women's coach for the first time, but says that won't change his up-tempo style that includes a harassing defense. His college style of play became known as "40 minutes of hell."

"It's 40 minutes of hell part II," Richardson said of his new team. He also said he has seen the Detroit Shock players who are moving to Tulsa. "I am looking so forward to coaching these women from the Detroit Shock team. Watching them play excites me."

TICKET INFORMATION
Phone: (877) 90-Hoops (46677)
Online: tulsaworld.com/wnba
e-mail: tickets@wnbatulsa.com

WNBA FAST FACTS
League founded: 1996
First season: 1997
Teams in league: 13 divided into Western Conference and Eastern Conference
Western conference: Los Angeles Sparks, Minnesota Lynx, Phoenix Mercury, Sacramento Monarchs, San Antonio Silver Stars, Seattle Storm.
Eastern conference: Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Detroit Shock (moving to Tulsa), Indiana Fever, New York Liberty, Washington Mystics.
2009 champion: Phoenix Mercury
Average ticket cost: $18
Players per team: 11
Salary scale for 2010: Rookies/free agents (0-2 years), $35,880; players with 3-5 years experience, $52,000; players with six or more years experience (core players), $101,500.
League season: Regular season consists of 34 games (17 home dates) and begins in June and continues through mid-September followed by playoffs.
* 45 Olympians in the league
* 96 percent of players have graduated college.
* 8 percent of league players are mothers.
* Eight teams have suspended operations, folded or relocated since 2002.
* In 2007 and 2008 the WNBA had attendance increases, including 46 sellouts in 2008.
* Currently involved in an eight-year television deal with ABC and ESPN. In 2009, the league featured 36 nationally televised games on ESPN2 and ABC; 70 televised games on NBA-TV. Games are broadcast to 194 countries, WNBA President Donna orender said.
* Team salary cap for next season is $827,000 with a minimum team salary of $796,000.

MEET THE PLAYERS
Tulsa inherits the three-time WNBA champion Detroit Shock in a deal approved by the league and announced on Tuesday. The team includes a three-time Olympic gold medalist, a pair of 10-year league veterans, a two-time NCAA Champion and the daughter of an NBA legend:

Guard Katie Smith: Won Olympic gold medals with Team USA in 2000, 2004 and 2009. One of two 10-year veterans on the team, Smith has two WNBA titles (2005, 2008) and is a six-time all-star in the league. The 5-foot-11 Smith left Ohio State as the leading scorer in Big 10 women’s basketball history with 2,598 points.

Taj McWilliams: A 6-2 center, is the other 10-year veteran on the squad. A third-round draft pick of the Orlando Miracle (now the Connecticut Sun) in 1999, McWilliams signed a one-year contract extension for the 2009 season on Aug. 12, 2008.

Alexis Hornbuckle: Won two NCAA Championships while playing at the University of Tennessee. The 5-11 guard was the fourth overall pick of the 2008 draft. She completed her first season in the league, averaging 10.6 points and 4.0 assists per game.

Cheryl Ford: A 6-3 forward from Louisiana Tech University, is the daughter of NBA superstar Karl Malone. She was a first-round draft pick of the Shock in 2003. A six-year veteran of the league, Ford missed all of the 2009 season after suffering a knee injury last year.

Kara Braxton: A 6-6 center/forward, the seventh overall draft pick in 2005. Averaged 9.6 points, 6.8 rebounds in 2009.

Tanae Davis-Cain: A 5-11 guard and third-round draft choice in 2008, completed her rookie season averaging 2.0 points and 2.0 rebounds.

Crystal Kelly: A 6-2 forward and third-round 2008 draft selection, she was acquired by Sacramento via waivers. Averaged 1.3 points, 0.7 rebounds in ‘09.

Deanna Nolan: A 5-9 guard/forward, has three WNBA titles in her eight seasons in the league. Named MVP of the WNBA finals in 2006.

Plenette Pierson: A 6-2 forward/center, the former Texas Tech player missed the majority of the 2009 season after shoulder surgery.

Olayinka Sanni: A 6-2 center, the second-round draft pick of the Shock a year ago played on the 2008 WNBA championship team. Averaged 3.3 points and 1.0 rebounds in ‘09.

Nikki Teasley: A 6-0 guard and six-year veteran out of North Carolina, Teasley averaged 4.8 points and 0.2 rebounds per game.

Shavonte Zellous: A 5-10 guard, the 11th overall pick in the ‘09 draft, the former Pittsburgh star averaged 15.6 points and 5.0 rebounds in her rookie season in the league.

By Staff Reports

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