dominating Chris Evert in a 6–0 set win. Final season Following her back-to-back female most valuable player awards, Chris Evert sought to leverage her value to WTT and as the year-ending number 1 player in the world each of the previous three years (1975 to 1977). Since the Racquets were unable to meet her demands, Evert's rights were traded to the Los Angeles Strings who signed her to a multi-year $1.2 million contract. Without Evert, under the leadership of their new coach Syd Ball, the Racquets slipped to a record of 14 wins and 30 losses in 1978, last place in the Western Division. Following the 1978 season, eight of the 10 WTT franchises folded leaving only the Racquets and the Golden Gaters prepared to participate in the 1979 season. A few weeks after most of the franchises announced they were folding, WTT announced the creation of three new expansion franchises in Dallas, Los Angeles and San Diego and said that there would be five more expansion franchises chosen from a pool of candidates. WTT suspended operations of the league in March 1979, ending the Racquets existence. Season-by-season records The following table shows regular season records, playoff results and titles won by the Phoenix Racquets franchise since its founding in 1974. Home courts The following table shows home courts used by the Phoenix Racquets franchise. Individual honors The following table shows individual honors bestowed upon players and coaches of the Phoenix Racquets franchise. Hall of Fame players The following players who are enshrined in the International Tennis Hall of Fame played for the Phoenix Racquets franchise: Françoise Dürr Chris Evert Tony Roche Final roster The Phoenix Racquets final roster for the 1978 season was Syd Ball, Player-Coach Sue Barker Rayni Fox Dean Paul Martin, Jr. Kristien Shaw Butch Walts Titles See also References External links Official World TeamTennis Website Defunct World TeamTennis teams Tennis in Arizona Tennis in Colorado 1973 establishments in Colorado 1975 establishments in Arizona 1975 disestablishments in Colorado 1979 disestablishments in Arizona Sports clubs established in 1973