| New Jersey Gems | |
|---|---|
 | |
| League | WBL |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Dissolved | 1981 |
| Arena | Thomas Dunn Center (1978–1980) South Mountain Arena (1980–81) |
| Location | Elizabeth, New Jersey (1978–1980) West Orange, New Jersey (1980–81) |
| Team colors | blue, orange, white |
TheNew Jersey Gems was a franchise that played in theWomen's Professional Basketball League (WBL), one of only three teams in the league to survive through all three seasons, from 1978–79 to 1980–81. The team made the league playoffs once, losing in the first round. The team played its first two seasons at the Thomas Dunn Center inElizabeth, New Jersey and at theSouth Mountain Arena inWest Orange, New Jersey in the league's third and final season.[1]
The league began with a player draft held inManhattan'sEssex House in July 1978, with eight teams participating. New Jersey selectedCarol Blazejowski fromMontclair State College, but announced while on tour inBulgaria with theU.S. national women's team through her coachMaureen Wendelken that she had no intention of playing professionally and that her goal was to retain her amateur standing to be able to play for the U.S. at the1980 Summer Olympics.[2]
The Gems finished the 1978–79 season with a record of 9 wins and 25 losses, placing fourth in the Eastern Division and giving it the league's worst record in its debut season.Ann Meyers, top pick by the Houston Angels[3] in the WBL's initial draft in 1978 sat out the first season. In a November 1979 news conference held atGiants Stadium, Meyer's agent announced that Meyers would sign a three-year contract with the Gems, with the $50,000 for the first year matching the amount she had been paid by theIndiana Pacers in a bid to become the first woman to play in theNBA.[4] That year, Meyers shared Most Valuable Player honors withMolly Bolin of theIowa Cornets. New Jersey had a 19–17 record in the 1979–80 season, placing third in the Eastern Division. While the team had a better record than theSan Francisco Pioneers, which did make it into the playoffs as the second-best team in the Western Division, only two teams from each division were eligible.
For the 1980–81 season, Meyers left the club over non-payment of wages. However, the team addedCarol Blazejowski, who signed a $150,000 three-year deal, as well as byTara Heiss of theUniversity of Maryland and twins Faye andKaye Young.[5] In the 1980–81 season. New Jersey completed the season with a record of 23 wins and 13 losses, placing second in the Coastal Division. In the first round of the playoffs, the Gems played the division-leadingDallas Diamonds. The Gems won the first game of the series 91–86, but were swept by Dallas by scores of 92–85 and 107–88 in the final two games.[6]
and the mother was in the stands among a crowd of 1100 in the South Mountain Arena, the new home of the New Jersey Gems.