Houston Angels
The Houston Angels, based in Houston, Texas, were a charter team of the Women's Professional Basketball League, the first women's pro league in the US. Hugh Sweeney owned the team, and Don Knodel coached it. The Angels drafted Ann Meyers and Lusia Harris, although Harris sat out the first season.
In 1978-79 Houston had the league's best record, 26-8. It beat the New York Stars in the semifinals, then met the Iowa Cornets in a best-of-five final. The Angels won it three games to two. Paula Mayo scored 36 points in the deciding game, a 111-104 win on May 2, 1979, in front of a crowd reported at nearly 6,000. Knodel was named coach of the year.
The Angels moved to the Western Division in 1979-80 and finished first at 19-14, but lost a quarterfinal series to the San Francisco Pioneers. The team was disbanded after that season.
