Minnesota Fillies
The Minnesota Fillies, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, played all three seasons of the Women's Professional Basketball League (WBL), from 1978 to 1981. Only three franchises lasted that long. Home games were played at the Met Center, then at Williams Arena and the Minneapolis Auditorium.
The Fillies went 17-17 in 1978-79 under coach Julia Yeater. Terry Kunze took over for 1979-80, and the team improved to 22-12. It beat New Orleans in the quarterfinals, then lost a three-game semifinal series to Iowa.
The last season went badly: 7-28. The league was short of money and many players and staff were not being paid. When the Fillies were still owed pay, the team walked off the court in Chicago before a game against the Hustle. The game was forfeited and the club finished the year with replacement players. The WBL folded in 1981.
