Women’s National Basketball Association (1997-2002)
Tombstone
Born: October 30, 1996 – WNBA founding franchise.
Moved: December 5, 2002 (San Antonio Silver Stars)
First Game: June 21, 1997 (L 70-60 vs. Sacramento Monarchs)
Last Game: August 24, 2002 (L 103-77 @ Los Angeles Sparks)
WNBA Championships: None
Arena
Delta Center (19,911)
Opened: 1991
Marketing
Team Colors: Purple, Light Blue, Green, Copper & Black
Ownership
Owner: Larry H. Miller
Background
The Utah Starzz were one of of eight founding franchises of the Women’s National Basketball Association, beginning play in the league’s inaugural season of 1997. The unique spelling of the team name was a co-branding effort with the NBA’s Utah Jazz, who operated the Starzz franchise.
Early Struggles
The Starzz were the league’s weakest entry during the WNBA’s early years, finishing last in their division each season from 1997 to 1999. Utah’s doormat status earned them the #1 overall selection in the 1998 WNBA draft, which the Starzz used to select center Margo Dydek from Poland. At 7′ 2″, Dydek was the tallest women’s basketball player in the world and she became perhaps the most recognizable figure from the Starzz’ six seasons in Salt Lake City.
The Starzz began to improve in their fourth season, posting their first winning record (18-14) in 2000. Two more winning seasons followed, capped by a franchise-best 20-12 record in 2002 and a trip to the playoff semi-finals, where the Starzz lost to the eventual champion Los Angeles Sparks. The improved teams did not lead to improved or sustainable box office, however. Starzz announced attendance lagged below 8,000 fans per game in both 2001 and 2002.
Move To San Antonio
At its inception, the WNBA was collectively owned by the NBA franchises. All WNBA teams from 1997 to 2002 were located in NBA cities and operated by NBA owners by league rule. At the end of the WNBA’s sixth season in 2002, the league moved away from this business model, paving the way for both independent ownership and non-NBA cities. At the same time, several NBA operators of struggling WNBA clubs took the opportunity to dump their women’s teams. No WNBA franchise had folded prior to 2002. That fall and winter the league lost NBA-run clubs in Miami, Orlando and Portland.
Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller bailed as well. Miller sold his interest to the Spurs Sports & Entertainment, operators of the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, in December 2002. The Starzz relocated to Texas and became the San Antonio Silver Stars (2003-2017). The franchise continues to exist in the WNBA today as the Las Vegas Aces.
Utah Starzz Video
Starzz spot from ESPN’s “WNBays” ad campaign from the 1999 season.
In Memoriam
Starzz owner/operator Larry H. Miller died at age 64 on February 20, 2009 from complications on Type II diabetes. Deseret News obituary.
Former Starzz center Margo Dydek passed away on May 27, 2011 in Australia, eight days after suffering a massive heart attack. New York Times obituary.
Links
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