The league was founded in November, 1987 as the International Basketball Association, by founders who included Bob Cousy and Michael Monus. The latter was subsequently convicted of having embezzled $10 million (from a privately-owned company he had founded called Phar-Mor) to finance the league. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison. The IBA changed its name to the WBL prior to the 1988-89 campaign.
The league was unique in that it had a height restriction. Players taller than 6-5 were not allowed to play. The restriction was raised to 6-7 in 1991.
| 87-88 | 6 | Calgary/Las Vegas (32-22) | Las Vegas 102 Chicago 95 | Sonny Allen |
| 88-89 | 6+ | Calgary (31-13) | Youngstown d’d Calgary 107-98; 118-116 | Bob Patton |
| 89-90 | 8+ | Youngstown (38-8) | Youngstown d’d Calgary 111-102; 106-111; 104-105; 123-104; 109-99 | Bob Patton |
| 90-91 | N-5 | Calgary (37-14) | ———————————— | ——————- |
| S-5 | Dayton (36-15) | Dayton d’d Calgary 112-96; 135-110; 120-89 | Pat Haley | |
| 91-92 | 14 | incomplete | Dayton declared champs with best record (26-7) at dissolution. | Mike Sylvester |
87-88
Final standings (6): Calgary 88’s (32-22); Las Vegas Silver Streaks (32-22); Youngstown Pride (28-26); Chicago Express (27-27); Fresno Flames (25-29); Vancouver Nighthawks (18-36)
In the postseason semis, the Chicago Express stunned the Calgary 88’s 109-107.
In the other semi, the Las Vegas Silver Streaks nipped the Youngstown Price 105-103.
In the final, the Las Vegas Silver Streaks dispatched the Chicago Express 102-95.
Canadian rosters:
Calgary 88’s: Carlos Clark, Jim Thomas, Sidney Lowe, Chip Engelland, David Boone, coach Mike Thibault
Vancouver Nighthawks: Bryan Pollard, Jose Slaughter, Andre Patterson, coach Mike Frink
88-89
Final standings (6+): Calgary 88’s (31-13); Youngstown Pride (30-14); Illinois Express (29-15); Las Vegas Silver Streaks (26-18); Worcester Counts (18-26); International teams (composite record of teams from Finland, Greece, Holland, Italy, Norway and Soviet Union) (1-49)
In the postseason semis, the Youngstown Pride defeated the Illinois Express 100-95; 99-97 (2g-0).
In the other semi, the Calgary 88’s defeated the Las Vegas Silver Streaks 122-115; 115-116; 120-115 (2g-1).
In the finals, the Youngstown Pride defeated the Calgary 88’s 107-98; 118-116 (2g-0).
Canadian rosters:
Calgary 88’s: Dave Henderson, Andre Turner, Carlos Clark, Chip Engelland, Perry Young, coach Cory Russell, coach Roger Lyons
89-90
Final standings (8+): Youngstown Pride (38-8); Las Vegas Silver Streaks (32-14); Calgary 88’s (29-17); Illinois Express (27-19); Memphis Rockers (27-19); Saskatchewan Storm (19-27); Erie Wave (12-34); International Teams (composite record of Finland, Greece, Holland, Italy, Norway and Soviet Union) (5-51)
In the postseason quarterfinals, the Calgary 88’s defeated the Erie Wave 113-98; 135-105 (2g-0).
The Memphis Rockers defeated the Illinois Express 108-110ot; 105-101; 108-98 (2g-1).
In the last quarterfinal series, the Las Vegas Silver Streaks defeated the Saskatchewan Storm 128-124ot; 120-107 (2g-0).
In the semis, the Youngstown Pride defeated the Memphis Rockers 89-92; 106-97; 107-104ot (2g-1).
In the other semi, the Calgary 88’s defeated the Las Vegas Silver Streaks 125-114; 127-121 (2g-0).
In the finals, the Youngstown Pride defeated the Calgary 88’s 111-102; 106-111; 104-105; 123-104; 109-99 (3g-2)
Canadian rosters:
Calgary 88’s: Carlos Clark, Perry Young, Chip Engelland, John Hegwood, coach Roger Lyons
Saskatchewan Storm: coach Mike Frink
90-91
Final standings:
North (5): Calgary 88’s (37-14; Youngstown Pride (26-25); Saskatchewan Storm (25-26); Halifax Windjammers (21-30); Eire Wave 918-33)
South (5): Dayton Wings (36-15); Florida Jade (30-21); Memphis Rockers (29-22); Nashville Stars (23-28); International Teams (composite record of Finland, Greece, Holland, Italy, Norway and Soviet Union) (7-38)
In the quarterfinals, the Saskatchewan Storm defeated the Youngstown Pride 105-99; 108-99 (2g-0).
The Florida Jade defeated the Memphis Rockers 115-111ot; 107-120; 114-98 (2g-1).
In the semis, the Calgary 88’s defeated the Saskatchewan Storm 146-93; 108-103 (2g-0).
In the other semi, the Dayton Wings defeated the Florida Jade 111-107; 125-112 (2g-0).
In the final, the Dayton Wings defeated the Calgary 88’s 112-96; 135-110; 120-89 (3g-0)
Canadian rosters:
Calgary 88’s: David Henderson, George Jackson, Kelsey Weems, Chip Engelland, coach Roger Lyons
Halifax Windjammers: Keith Smart, Milt Newton, Willie Bland, Kevin Veinot, coach Ian MacMillan, coach Mickey Fox
Saskatchewan Storm: Dudley Bradley, Mario Donaldson, coach Mike Riley
91-92
Standings at dissolution (14): Dayton Wings (26-7); Calgary 88’s (22-12); Youngstown Pride (22-13); Halifax Windjammers (19-14); Hamilton Skyhawks (17-17); Winnipeg Thunder (15-22); Saskatchewan Storm (12-21); Florida Jades (9-10); Erie Wave (12-16); Jacksonville Stingrays (5-14); Estonian Nationals (1-14); Abruzzo, Italy All-Stars (1-14); Kiev All-Stars (1-14); Bahamas Nationals (1-14)
Florida and Jacksonville disbanded June 15, 1992.
Erie disbanded July 20, 1992.
Dayton disbanded July 31, 1992.
League disbanded August 1, 1992.
Though the Dayton Wings folded, they were declared the champs with the best record-to-date in the regular season.
Canadian rosters:
Calgary 88’s: coach Roger Lyons. Players during the five seasons the 88’s operated included Jim Thomas (Indiana), Chip Engelland (Duke), Daryl MacDonald (Texas A&M) John Spencer (Howard U), Chris Childs (Boise St), Kelby Stuckey (SW Missouri), Roland Gray (Saint Louis), Jerry Stroman (Utah), Nikita Wilson (LSU), Carlos Clark, David Henderson, Andre Turner, Sidney Lowe, Kelsey Weems, Perry Young, John Hegwood, Corey Gaines and David Boone.
Halifax Windjammers: Kevin Veinot, coach Mickey Fox
Hamilton Skyhawks: coach Kevin Billerman
Saskatchewan Storm: coach Mike Riley
Winnipeg Thunder: coach Tom Nissalke
| YEAR | PLAYER OF THE YEAR | COACH OF THE YEAR | |
| 87-88 | Mike Thibault – Calgary | ||
| 88-89 | Bob Patton – Youngstown | ||
| 89-90 | Sonny Allen – Las Vegas | ||
| 90-91 | Tracy Moore – Florida | Pat Haley – Dayton |
| YEAR | CHAMPIONSHIP MVP | SIXTH MAN | |
| 87-88 | Jamie Waller – Las Vegas | Chip Engelland – Calgary | |
| 88-89 | Barry Mitchell – Youngstown | Keith Smart – Worcester | |
| 89-90 | Barry Mitchell – Youngstown | Troy Lewis – Youngstown | |
| 90-91 | Perry McDonald – Dayton | Kelsey Weems – Calgary |
| YEAR | ROOKIE OF THE YEAR | ||
| 87-88 | |||
| 88-89 | |||
| 89-90 | |||
| 90-91 | J.J. Eubanks – Nashville |
| YEAR | SCORING | REBOUNDING | |
| 87-88 | Jamie Waller (Las Vegas) 26.7 | David Boone (Calgary) 9.8 | |
| 88-89 | Jamie Waller (Las Vegas) 21.7 | Alfredrick Hughes (Illinois) 11.5 | |
| 89-90 | Jamie Waller (Las Vegas) 26.5 | Vincent Askew (Memphis) 9.8 | |
| 90-91 | Jamie Waller (Las Vegas/Erie) 26.3 | Willie Bland (Halifax) 12.3 |
| YEAR | ASSISTS | STEALS | |
| 87-88 | Mark Wade (Las Vegas) 12.8 | Mark Wade (Las Vegas) 1.83 | |
| 88-89 | Cedric Hunter (Las Vegas) 11.0 | Darryl Johnson (Illinois) 1.86 | |
| 89-90 | Mark Wade (Youngstown) 11.5 | Andre Turner (Memphis) 2.43 | |
| 90-91 | Mark Wade (Youngstown) 8.7 | Darryl McDonald (Nashville) 2.47 |
| YEAR | FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | FREE THROW PERCENTAGE | |
| 87-88 | Don Jacobs (Las Vegas/Fresno) .601 | Scott Brooks (Fresno) .884 | |
| 88-89 | Willie Bland (Youngstown) .608 | Chip Engelland (Calgary) .864 | |
| 89-90 | Vincent Askew (Memphis) .606 | Chip Engelland (Calgary) .936 | |
| 90-91 | Mack Joyner (Florida) .696 | Chip Engelland (Calgary) .935 |
| YEAR | BLOCKS | THREE-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | |
| 87-88 | Andre Patterson (Vancouver) 2.18 | Jim Les (Chicago) .467 | |
| 88-89 | Perry Young (Calgary) 1.33 | Chip Engelland (Calgary) .513 | |
| 89-90 | John Hegwood (Calgary) 1.30 | Chip Engelland (Calgary) .513 | |
| 90-91 | Willie Glass (Youngstown) 1.65 | Chip Engelland (Calgary) .494 |
| YEAR | ALL-LEAGUE | ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM | |
| 87-88 | Jamie Waller – Las Vegas Anthony Jones – Las Vegas Jim Les – Chicago Carlos Clark – Calgary Bryan Pollard – Vancouver | Barry Mitchell – Youngstown Juden Smith – Fresno Johnny Brown – Las Vegas Bryan Pollard – Vancouver Jim Thomas – Calgary | |
| 88-89 | Willie Bland – Youngstown Dave Henderson – Calgary Alfredrick Hughes – Illinois Andre Turner – Calgary Jamie Walker – Las Vegas | Barry Mitchell – Youngstown Carlos Clark – Calgary Cedric Hunter – Las Vegas Perry McDonald – Illinois Keith Smart – Worcester | |
| 89-90 | Fred Cofield – Youngstown Mario Elie – Youngstown Chip Engelland – Calgary Alfredrick Hughes – Illinois Jamie Waller – Las Vegas | Barry Mitchell – Youngstown Mark Wade – Youngstown Carlos Clark – Calgary Cedric Hunter – Las Vegas Perry McDonald – Illinois | |
| 90-91 | Joe Dawson – Memphis Alfredrick Hughes – Illinois Tracy Moore – Florida Milt Wagner – Memphis Daren Queenan – Nashville | Dudley Bradley – Saskatchewan Willie Glass – Youngstown Darryl McDonald – Nashville Perry Mcdonald – Dayton Keith Smart – Halifax |