San Francisco Pioneers

The San Francisco Pioneers, based in San Francisco, California, were an expansion team in the Women's Professional Basketball League (WBL), which added four teams for its second season. They played in the San Francisco Civic Auditorium for both of their seasons, 1979-80 and 1980-81.

The Pioneers went 18-18 in 1979-80, second in the Western Division, under coach Frank LaPorte. They reached the semifinals and lost 0-2 to the New York Stars, the eventual champions. Anita Ortega led the team in scoring that year. Owner Marshall Geller, a stockbroker, was named the league's Owner of the Year.

The second season went worse. LaPorte was fired about two months in and replaced by Dean Meminger, and San Francisco finished 14-22 and missed the playoffs. Molly Bolin led the scoring at 26.8 points per game. The WBL folded after that season, and the Pioneers went with it.