The Women's International Bowling Congress announced that it has acquired the rights and assets of the Professional Women's Bowling Association from former PWBA owner John Sommer. The announcement was made Wednesday at the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America's trade show, International Bowl Expo, at the Las Vegas Hilton.

This agreement highlights WIBC's continuing effort to protect the history and heritage of women's bowling, while creating opportunities to strengthen the future of the sport for women.

"WIBC is very pleased with this agreement," said WIBC Executive Director Roseann Kuhn. "In addition to acquiring the historical records of the PWBA, it gives WIBC the ability to investigate the development of a tour; pursuing sponsorships; and most importantly seeking television coverage of the tour stops."

She further stated, "WIBC is firmly committed to finding a solution to reinstating a women's professional tour and the acquisition of the PWBA assets will give us the leverage to begin our investigation."

"I've invested a lot of my life and significant dollars in the PWBA," said Sommer, "and I'm excited over the fact that the PWBA is now in the hands of the Women's International Bowling Congress where I have long felt it should be." He further said, "Strong highly visible pro tours are critical to the growth of our industry. With WIBC's support and the new USBC and Strike Ten, I'm confident that the PWBA will reach these goals."

In the fall of 2003, the PWBA tour ceased operations before the completion of its 2003 season, although WIBC had sponsored the tour for the 2003-04 season. The transfer of the assets, which includes but is not limited to the right to the PWBA name, trademark, logo and website domain - pwba.com, satisfied that sponsorship arrangement. Additional details of the agreement were not disclosed.

In addition to the positive impact on professional women's bowling, this agreement also is positive for the United States Bowling Congress, which will acquire the PWBA when WIBC merges with the American Bowling Congress, Young American Bowling Alliance and USA Bowling on Jan. 1, 2005.