fbpx

History

Rewriting sports history since 1974.

Milestones
Champions
Player Database
 
  • New Owners 2017
     

    WTT team owners Mark Ein (Washington Kastles) and Fred Luddy (San Diego Aviators) purchase majority ownership of World TeamTennis from league co-founder Billie Jean King who will remain involved as a minority owner of the league and majority owner of the Philadelphia Freedoms franchise.

  • Back in the Big Apple 2016
     

    WTT returns to New York City with the New York Empire.

  • The Kastles Era 2011-2015
     
    • In 2011, the Washington Kastles completed the first undefeated season in WTT history (16-0), and won their 2nd WTT Championship with a victory over St. Louis Aces.
    • One year later, the Kastles did it again. Led by Venus Williams, Washington edged Sacramento in the 2012 Finals to complete their second undefeated season and hoist the King Trophy for the third time in franchise history.
    • Before winning their 3rd consecutive and 4th overall championship in 2013, the Kastles became the first league champion to be invited to the White House to meet with the President.
    • Washington also rewrote the sports record books during the 2013 season by setting the mark of 34 consecutive wins (2011-2013), the longest streak in major pro sports league history. The previous mark of 33 consecutive wins was held by the NBA’s 1971-72 Lakers.
    • In 2015, the Kastles set a league record of five consecutive championship titles (2011-15) surpassing the record they shared with the Sacramento Capitals (1997-2000).
  • Turning 40 2015
     

    World TeamTennis becomes only the fifth U.S. pro sports league to reach the 40th season milestone, joining the National Football League, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League and Major League Baseball. WTT also introduces an on-court service clock.

  • Navratilova turns 20 2009
     

    Martina Navratilova, playing for the Boston Lobsters in 2009, becomes the first player to play 20 seasons in WTT. Kim Clijsters comes out of retirement and makes her WTT debut for St. Louis in July 2009. Less than two months later, she returns to the pro tour and stuns the sports world by winning the US Open title.

  • Graf, Hingis Highlight 30th Season 2005
     

    WTT celebrates its 30th anniversary and introduces instant replay to professional tennis competition. Stefanie Graf makes her return to pro tennis for the first time since 1999 to play WTT. Martina Hingis makes her WTT debut and leads the New York Sportimes to their first title. Hingis lost only one set during the 2005 season and was named MVP of the WTT Finals. Her WTT performance spurred the tennis great to make a successful return to the WTA Tour.

  • Ambassador Agassi 2002
     

    Andre Agassi joined WTT as a player and League ambassador.

  • 4-peat & Andy is a Hit 2000
     

    Sacramento had an unprecedented four-peat, winning the title from 1997 to 2000. Seven years later, the Capitals becomes the first team in WTT history to win six championships with the 2007 title. A 17-year-old Andy Roddick breaks onto the pro scene and makes his WTT debut playing a full season for the Idaho Sneakers.

  • A New Name 1992
     

    In line with the growing global popularity of the sport, the professional league is rebranded from TeamTennis to World TeamTennis.

  • Legends Sign On 1990
     

    Ilana Kloss signs Jimmy Connors and Martina Navratilova to the League’s first multi-year marquee player contracts.

  • Commissioner King 1984
     

    Billie Jean King becomes the first woman commissioner in pro sports history.

  • TeamTennis 1981
     

    Following a brief hiatus, the league returns as TeamTennis.

  • First Set 1974
     

World TeamTennis, which was founded by Billie Jean King, Larry King, Fred Barman, Jordon Kaiser, Dennis Murphy and Frank Fuhrer, debuts as the inaugural season introduces professional team tennis competition to the sports landscape.

  • Based on a concept of gender equity, WTT is also the first professional sports league to feature men and women on the same team. It is also the debut of WTT’s unique multi-colored court.
  • The Denver Racquets defeat the Philadelphia Freedoms to win the first championship.
  • League co-founder Billie Jean King is named as the League’s first MVP and is also the first woman to coach a team with male pros as the player-coach of the Freedoms.
  • Among the first team owners was the Los Angeles Strings’ Jerry Buss, who went on to own the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers. His daughter Jeanie became the team GM in 1981. Robert Kraft, current owner of the NFL’s New England Patriots, became owner of the Boston Lobsters in 1975.
  • On May 6, 1974, the first World TeamTennis match was played when the Philadelphia Freedoms hosted the Pittsburgh Triangles at the Spectrum. Philadelphia won 31-25.
  • On May 9, 1974, WTT becomes the first regularly scheduled tennis serves coverage on HBO when the New York Sets take on the Pittsburgh Triangles.

WTT Champions

 

2019 Las Vegas, Nev.: Springfield Lasers def. New York Empire 20-19

2018 Philadelphia, Pa.: Springfield Lasers def. Philadelphia Freedoms 19-18
2017 Carlsbad, Calif.: Orange County Breakers def. San Diego Aviators 22-18
2016 Forest Hills, N.Y.: San Diego Aviators def. Orange County Breakers 25-14
2015 Washington, DC: Washington Kastles def. Austin Aces 24-18
2014 Springfield, Mo.: Washington Kastles def. Springfield Lasers 25-13
2013 Washington, DC: Washington Kastles def. Springfield Lasers 25-12
2012 Charleston, S.C.: Washington Kastles def. Sacramento Capitals 20-19
2011 Charleston, S.C.: Washington Kastles def. St. Louis Aces 23-19
2010 Kansas City, Mo.: Kansas City Explorers def. New York Sportimes 21-18
2009 Washington, DC: Washington Kastles def. Springfield Lasers 23-20
2008 Sacramento, Calif.: New York Buzz def. Kansas City Explorers 21-18
2007 Sacramento, Calif.: Sacramento Capitals def. New York Buzz 24-20
2006 Newport Beach, Calif.: Philadelphia Freedoms def. Newport Beach Breakers 21-14
2005 Sacramento, Calif.: New York Sportimes def. Newport Beach Breakers 21-18
2004 Flushing Meadows, N.Y.: Newport Beach Breakers def. Delaware Smash 23-17
2003 Flushing Meadows, N.Y.: Delaware Smash def. Sacramento Capitals 21-14
2002 Flushing Meadows, N.Y.: Sacramento Capitals def. New York Buzz 21-13
2001 Flushing Meadows, N.Y.: Philadelphia Freedoms def. Springfield Lasers 20-18
2000 Flushing Meadows, N.Y.: Sacramento Capitals def. Delaware Smash 21-20
1999 Sacramento, Calif.: Sacramento Capitals def. Springfield Lasers 23-15
1998 Sacramento, Calif.: Sacramento Capitals def. New York OTBzz 30-13
1997 Orlando, Fla.: Sacramento Captitals won title due to regular season standings (finals rained out)
1996 Wesley Chapel, Fla.: St. Louis Aces def. Delaware Smash 27-16
1995 Charlotte, N.C.: New Jersey Stars def. Atlanta Thunder 28-20
1994 Sacramento, Calif.: New Jersey Stars def. Idaho Sneakers 28-25
1993 Atlanta, Ga.: Wichita Advantage def. Newport Beach Dukes 26-23
1992 Atlanta, Ga.: Atlanta Thunder def. Newport Beach Dukes 30-17
1991 Atlanta, Ga.: Atlanta Thunder def. Los Angeles Strings 27-16
1990 Los Angeles, Calif.: Los Angeles Strings def. Raleigh Edge 27-16
1989 Sacramento, Calif.: San Antonio Racquets def. Sacramento Capitals 27-25
1988 Charlotte, N.C.: Charlotte Heat def. New Jersey Stars 27-22
1987 Charlotte, N.C.: Charlotte Heat def. San Antonio Racquets 25-20
1986 San Antonio, Texas: San Antonio Racquets def. Sacramento Capitals 25-23
1985 San Antonio, Texas: San Diego Buds def. St. Louis Slims 25-24
1984 Los Angeles, Calif.: San Diego Buds – Season Consisted of One-Week Tournament
1983 Los Angeles, Calif.: Chicago Fyre def. Los Angeles Strings 26-20
1982 Dallas Stars def. Phoenix Sunsets 27-22
1981 Los Angeles Strings – Champion determined by Regular Season Record
1979-80 League hiatus
1978 Los Angeles, Calif. // Boston, Mass.: Los Angeles Strings def. Boston Lobsters 108-93 (24-21, 30-20, 26-27, 28-25)*
1977 New York, N.Y. // Phoenix, Ariz.: New York Apples def. Phoenix Racquets 55-39 (27-22, 28-17)*
1976 New York, N.Y. // San Francisco, Calif.: New York Sets def. San Francisco Golden Gaters 91-57 (31-23, 29-21, 31-13)*
1975 Pittsburgh, Pa. // San Francisco, Calif.: Pittsburgh Triangles def. San Francisco Golden Gaters 74-65 (25-26, 28-25, 21-14)*
1974 Denver, Colo. // Philadelphia, Pa.: Denver Racquets def. Philadelphia Freedoms 55-48 (27-21, 28-24)*
* From 1974-1978 , championship matches were either best 2 out of 3 matches or 3 out of 5 matches