During the 1970s, women's athletics saw a massive surge in popularity, driven in large part by the passage of Title IX legislation by Congress in 1972. This groundbreaking law banned gender-based discrimination in federally funded sports programs and represented a major turning point for women in sports. In the years that followed, participation in women's athletics jumped by more than 400 percent, setting the stage for the creation of professional leagues dedicated to women's sports.
By the tail end of the decade, something trailblazing was taking shape. Bill Byrne, a visionary talent scout, recognized the growing enthusiasm surrounding women's college basketball and decided the time was right to take the sport professional. His efforts led to the founding of the WBL — the first-ever professional basketball league for women.
Byrne had a sharp instinct for building buzz. To drum up excitement ahead of the league's debut, he sent out thousands of brochures and game invitations to prominent figures throughout Milwaukee, which had been selected as the host city. The strategy paid off handsomely — close to 8,000 fans showed up for the historic first game.
The league launched with eight teams, and the Milwaukee Does earned the honor of hosting that landmark opener. Milwaukee was considered a basketball town, and the Does already had access to a professional arena that served as home court for NBA games. Their opponents that night were the Chicago Hustle, who edged out the Does in a tightly contested 92-87 victory.
Though the WBL proved short-lived — folding after just a few years because of financial difficulties — its impact endured far beyond its brief run. The league served as both an inspiration and a blueprint, helping clear the path for future women's professional basketball ventures, including the WNBA, to take root and thrive.