Miami Sol

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Miami Sol
Miami Sol logo
ConferenceEastern
LeaguesWNBA
Founded2000
Dissolved2002
HistoryMiami Sol
2000–2002
ArenaAmerican Airlines Arena
LocationMiami, Florida
Team colorsFiery red, yellow, black, white
       
Head coachRon Rothstein

The Miami Sol were a professional women's basketball team that was based in Miami, Florida and entered the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) in 2000. They played their games at American Airlines Arena as the sister team to the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team folded after the 2002 season because of financial problems.

History[]

In their short history, the Miami Sol was coached for three seasons by Ron Rothstein. Players such as Debbie Black, Elena Baranova, Sandy Brondello, Ruth Riley, and Sheri Sam led them to the playoffs in 2001, but lost in the first round to the New York Liberty in three games, the only playoff appearance in franchise history. After losing to the New York Liberty in the playoffs, the Miami Sol finished the 2002 season with a 15–17 record. That season proved to be the Sol's last. Citing the inability to raise enough funds to continue operation under the WNBA's new restructuring agreement, the organization ceased operations. The team finished with a .500 franchise record of 48 wins and 48 losses. The other Florida team, the Orlando Miracle, ceased operations after the 2002 season and was relocated to Connecticut as the Connecticut Sun, adopting a nickname and logo very similar to the Miami Sol.

After the team's folding, its players found success elsewhere in the league. After being reassigned to the Detroit Shock, Ruth Riley won two WNBA championships in 2003 and 2006. Betty Lennox and Sandy Brondello won a WNBA championship with the Seattle Storm in 2004, with Lennox winning the WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player award.

Playoff history[]

2001 was Miami's only playoff appearance in three seasons of existence.

Uniforms[]

The Sol's road uniforms were fiery red, with the team name emblazoned in white on the chest and a WNBA ball in place of the hole in the letter "O". The home jerseys featured the same design, only with the colors inverted.

Name[]

The team's nickname, Sol, is Spanish and Portuguese for "sun". The name played off the Miami area's large Hispanic population and its "brother" NBA team, the Miami Heat.

Season-by-season records[]

Season Team Conference Regular Season Playoff Results
W L PCT
Miami Sol
2000 2000 East 6th 13 19 .406 Did not qualify
2001 2001 East 3rd 20 12 .625 Lost Conference Semifinals (New York, 1–2)
2002 2002 East 6th 15 17 .469 Did not qualify
Regular Season 48 48 .500 0 Conference Championships
Playoffs 1 2 .333 0 WNBA Championships

Notable players[]

Coaches and others[]

Head Coaches:

General Managers:

  • Ron Rothstein (2000–02)

Assistant Coaches

TV Production

  • (2000–02)

External links[]


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