New Jersey Gems

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The New Jersey Gems, based in Elizabeth, New Jersey, played all three seasons of the Women's Professional Basketball League (WBL), from 1978 to 1981. They played at the Thomas Dunn Center in Elizabeth and then at South Mountain Arena in West Orange.

The first year was rough: 9-25, the worst record in the league. Ann Meyers signed in 1979 and the Gems went 19-17. She shared the league's most valuable player award that year with Molly Bolin of the Iowa Cornets. Meyers left in 1980-81 over unpaid wages.

That last season brought Carol Blazejowski, plus Tara Heiss and the twins Faye and Kaye Young. The Gems went 23-13, second in the Coastal Division, and made the playoffs for the only time. They lost to the Dallas Diamonds in the first round. The league folded in 1981.