▁ 2 , ▁ 1 9 7 9 , ▁to ▁take ▁the ▁league ' s ▁first ▁championship , ▁ 1 1 1 – 1 0 4 ▁in ▁the ▁final ▁game ▁of ▁a ▁best ▁three - out - of - five ▁competition . ▁▁ 1 9 7 9 – 8 0 ▁season ▁The ▁league ▁made ▁it ▁through ▁its ▁first ▁season ▁with ▁all ▁eight ▁teams ▁in ▁operation , ▁though ▁the ▁Day ton ▁Rock ettes ▁had ▁been ▁taken ▁over ▁by ▁the ▁league ▁in ▁February ▁ 1 9 7 9 ▁and ▁was ▁to ▁be ▁re located ▁to ▁either ▁Indian apolis ▁or ▁Los ▁Angeles . ▁New ▁franch ises ▁had ▁been ▁awarded ▁to ▁Dallas , ▁New ▁Orleans , ▁San ▁Francisco ▁and ▁St . ▁Louis , ▁Missouri , ▁while ▁applications ▁were ▁received ▁for ▁potential ▁franch ises ▁from ▁Baltimore , ▁Boston , ▁Los ▁Angeles , ▁Philadelphia ▁and ▁Washington , ▁D . C . ▁ ▁The ▁Eastern ▁Division ▁included ▁the ▁New ▁Jersey ▁G ems , ▁New ▁Orleans ▁P ride , ▁New ▁York ▁Stars , ▁Philadelphia ▁Fox , ▁St . ▁Louis ▁Stre ak ▁and ▁Washington ▁Met ros . ▁The ▁Mid west ▁Division ▁included ▁the ▁Chicago ▁H ust le , ▁Iowa ▁Cor net s , ▁Mil w au kee ▁Does ▁and ▁Minnesota ▁F ill ies . ▁The ▁Western ▁Division ▁included ▁the ▁California ▁Dream s , ▁Dallas ▁Diam onds , ▁Houston ▁Ang els ▁and ▁San ▁Francisco ▁P ione ers . ▁▁ ▁On ▁April ▁ 9 , ▁ 1 9 8 0 , ▁despite ▁Iowa ' s ▁league - leading ▁sc orer ▁Mol ly ▁Bol in