HOUSTON, TX, May 16, 2000 – The Southwest Basketball League announced today the creation of the Women’s Southwest Basketball League (WSBL), expanding the Southwest Basketball League women’s developmental program announced last November. An extension of the SBL, the WSBL will focus on enhancing the athletic and personal development of women basketball athletes of all ages. “We are extremely excited to expand the opportunities for women athletes in our program”, said Charles Johnson, Southwest Basketball League Commissioner. “After more than a year of working to put this together, it is great to see it finally happening.” The WSBL joins the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) as the only women’s professional basketball leagues currently playing in the United States.

The WSBL will begin play this summer with a six-team Pro-Am series beginning in June. Each team will play a 10 game regular season, followed by a post-season tournament. As the number of team increase, the number of regular season games will increase as well. Teams planning to compete in the inaugural season of the WSBL include Austin, Brenham, Bryan/College Station, Houston, Killeen and San Antonio.

Featuring top athletes from around the country, the WSBL Pro-Am series will be conducted under the guidelines of the National Pro Am City League Association and sanctioned by USA Basketball, the National Governing Body for Basketball in the United States. “The response we have received for the WSBL has been tremendous, said Anthony Brown, Southwest Basketball League Deputy Commissioner. “We are looking forward to a great and fun season.”

The WSBL will join the rapidly growing minor league market. Minor league sports are rapidly becoming the fastest growing segment in professional sports. High profile athletes like Nolan Ryan, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Cal Ripken, Martina Navratilova and Isaiah Thomas have all become owners of minor league sports franchises.

Tryouts for each team will begin during the month of May. “In order to ensure we attract the highest quality players available, we have scheduled tryouts following the completion of the Women’s National Basketball Association, (WNBA) pre-season camps", said Johnson. The WSBL training camps will begin the first week of June.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the mission of the Southwest Basketball League is to provide affordable, quality, family entertainment for the community, while developing professional athlete’s coaches and officials.

* WNBA is a registered trademark of WNBA ENTERPRISES, LLC

* WSBL is a trademark of SOUTHWEST BASKETBALL LEAGUE, INC.