| 2017 Philadelphia Freedoms season | |
|---|---|
| Record | |
| 2017 record | 6 wins, 8 losses |
| Team info | |
| Owner(s) | Billie Jean King |
| General manager | Barbara Perry |
| Coach | Craig Kardon |
| Stadium | Michael J. Hagan Arena (capacity: 3,500) |
The 2017 Philadelphia Freedoms season was the 17th season of the franchise (in its current incarnation) in World TeamTennis (WTT).
On January 24, 2017, the Freedoms announced they would play their 2017 home matches at the Michael J. Hagan Arena on the campus of St. Joseph's University in West Philadelphia. It will be the first WTT action in the city of Philadelphia, since the original Freedoms called the Spectrum their home in 1974. Team owner Billie Jean King said, "I came to see the arena here a few months ago, and I walked in, and I go, this is perfect for us, perfect size, it’s really beautiful, and it’s easy for public transportation." [1] [2]
At the WTT Marquee Player Draft on February 16, 2017, the Freedoms selected Sloane Stephens and chose Andy Roddick, whom had been left unprotected by the New York Empire, in the second round. [3]
Led by 2017 US Open (tennis) champion Sloane Stephens, 2017 International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Andy Roddick and returning fan favorite Donald Young (tennis), the Freedoms played competitively, going into the final weekend of the season in playoff contention. Led by returning championship-winning coach Craig Kardon, the 2017 squad also featured familiar faces like Taylor Townsend (tennis), in her third season with the Freedoms, and 2016 World TeamTennis Male Rookie of the Year Fabrice Martin, returning to dominate in men’s and mixed doubles for the second consecutive season. The 2017 season also featured the WTT debut of sensational rookie Darian King, the highest-ranked professional tennis player in the history of Barbados. Freedoms fans were thrilled by a visiting appearance from tennis great Venus Williams (Washington Kastles), who played in Philadelphia just weeks after reaching the final of the 2017 The Championships, Wimbledon.
After finishing fourth in WTT in 2016, the Freedoms selected third in each round of WTT's drafts.
WTT conducted its 2017 Marquee Player Draft on February 16, in New York City. The selections made [3] by the Freedoms are shown in the table below.
| Round | No. | Overall | Player chosen | Prot? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 3 |  Sloane Stephens | N |
| 2 | 3 | 9 | Andy Roddick | N |
| 3 | 3 | 12 | Pass | – |
The Philadelphia Freedoms is a tennis team currently competing in World TeamTennis.
The New York Buzz was a professional tennis team competing in World TeamTennis (WTT). The team was originally based in Schenectady, New York from 1995 to 2007, before moving to Albany, New York in 2008, and Guilderland, New York in 2009. The team was founded as the New York OTBzz in 1995, before changing its name to the Schenectady County Electrics in 1999, and finally adopting the name New York Buzz in 2001. In 2008, the team won its third Eastern Conference Championship and went on to defeat the Kansas City Explorers to capture its first and only King Trophy in its fourth appearance in the WTT Final.
The Washington Kastles is one of eight franchises that compete in World TeamTennis. Founded in 2008 and based in Washington, D.C., the Kastles have won the WTT championship six times, tied for a league record. The team is named for Kastle Systems, a security company founded by owner Mark Ein.
The 2014 World TeamTennis season was the 39th season of the top professional team tennis league in the United States. Pursuant to a sponsorship agreement with Mylan N.V., the official name of the league was Mylan World TeamTennis in 2014. The Washington Kastles defeated the Springfield Lasers in the WTT Final to win their fourth consecutive King Trophy.
The San Diego Aviators were a World TeamTennis (WTT) team that plays at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California in the United States. The team is the successor to two WTT franchises. The first was created in 1995, as the New York OTBzz, later renamed the Schenectady County Electrics and then the New York Buzz. The second was created in 2000, as the New York Hamptons, later renamed the New York Sportimes. The Aviators, founded in 1995, are the oldest continuously operating franchise in WTT. The team has won the King Trophy as WTT champions three times: once playing as the New York Sportimes in 2005, once as the New York Buzz in 2008, and once as the San Diego Aviators in 2016. As of 2016, the three championships is the second most of any active WTT franchise behind the Washington Kastles, who have won six.
The 2014 San Diego Aviators season was the 20th season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT) and its first playing in San Diego, California.
The 2013 New York Sportimes season was the 19th season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT) including the history it inherited from the 2011 merger with the New York Buzz, the 15th season since the founding of the New York metropolitan area-franchise and its third playing home matches in both New York City and the Capital District.
The 2014 Washington Kastles season was the seventh season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT).
The 2014 Springfield Lasers season was the 19th season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT).
The 2014 Philadelphia Freedoms season was the 14th season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT).
The 2014 Austin Aces season was the 12th season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT) and its first in Greater Austin, Texas after relocating from Orange County, California.
The 2014 Boston Lobsters season was the tenth season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT).
The 2015 Austin Aces season was the 13th season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT) and its second and final season in Greater Austin, Texas.
The New York Empire is a World TeamTennis (WTT) team that plays its home matches at the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning in the Bronx, New York City.
The 2016 New York Empire season was the inaugural season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT). The Empire finished last in WTT with 2 wins and 10 losses.
The 2016 Orange County Breakers season was the 14th season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT) and its 12th season in Orange County, California, the first after returning from playing two seasons in Greater Austin, Texas as the Austin Aces.
The 2016 Philadelphia Freedoms season was the 16th season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT).
The 2017 World TeamTennis season was the 42nd season of the top professional team tennis league in the United States. Pursuant to a sponsorship agreement with Mylan N.V., the official name of the league was Mylan World TeamTennis in 2017.
The 2017 New York Empire season was the second season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT). The Empire finished third in WTT with a record of 7 wins and 7 losses.
The 2018 Philadelphia Freedoms season was the 18th season of the franchise in World TeamTennis (WTT).
