World Team Tennis

World Team Tennis is a league of team tennis in the United States. The league was established in 1974 as Professional World Team Tennis and suspended play after the 1978 season. The league resumed play in 1981 as TeamTennis and has fluctuated between four and twelve professional teams since then. In 1992 the name was changed again to World TeamTennis (WTT). In 2005, twelve professional teams competed. Billie Jean King became commissioner of the league in 1984 following her retirement from competition.

History

1974-1978

• Baltimore Banners (1974)
• Boston Lobsters (1974)
• Chicago Aces (1974)
• Cleveland Nets (1974-1977) / New Orleans Nets (1978)
• Denver Racquets (1974) / Phoenix Racquets (1975-1978)
• Detroit Loves (1974) / Indiana Loves (1975-1978)
• Florida Flamingos (1974)
• Hawaii Leis (1974-1976) / Sea-Port Cascades (1977) / Seattle Cascades (1977)
• Houston E-Z Riders (1974)
• Los Angeles Strings (1974-1978)
• Minnesota Buckskins (1974)
• New York Sets (1974-1976) / New York Apples (1977-1978)
• Philadelphia Freedoms (1974) / Boston Lobsters (1975-1978)
• Pittsburgh Triangles (1974-1976)
• San Francisco Golden Gaters (1974-1978)
• Toronto-Buffalo Royals (1974)
• San Diego Friars (1975-1978)
• Soviet National Team (Pennsylvania Keystones)(1977)
• Anaheim Oranges (1978)

The Soviet National team was originally named the Pennsylvania Keystones and were to play in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. The name was changed before the beginning of the season.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1981-1991

Professional league play resumed in 1981 as TeamTennis with four California teams, expanding to eight teams in 1982. In 1985 a recreational league for non-professionals was added which was co-branded with the professional league.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1992-1999

In 1992, the current name World TeamTennis was adopted.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

2000-present

In 2000, the current logo was adopted.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The league consists of 12 teams:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

New York Sportimes,

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Houston Wranglers,

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Delaware Smash,

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

New York Buzz,

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Boston Lobsters,

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Philadelphia Freedom,

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sacramento Capitals,

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

St. Louis Aces,

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hartford Foxforce,

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Kansas City Explorers,

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Springfield Lasers,

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Newport Beach Breakers

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~