General Motors Donates $28,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation on Behalf of WNBA Players
December 16, 2004 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release
NEW YORK, December 16, 2004 â General Motors (GM), a marketing partner of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) since the league's 1997 inaugural season, donated $28,000 during the 2004 WNBA season to the Make-A-Wish Foundation through the General Motors Player of the Game program. General Motors donated $1,000 to Make-A-Wish in the name of a WNBA player for every nationally televised game on ABC and ESPN2 throughout the 2004 WNBA regular season and playoffs.
"We value our marketing partnership with the WNBA and we're especially pleased that we've been able to use this relationship to also help children who are battling life-threatening illnesses," said GM's Steve Tihanyi, general director, marketing alliances and regional operations. "GM, the WNBA and the Make-A-Wish Foundation have several things in common: we support reaching out to help others, getting involved in the communities in which we live and work, and -most of all- celebrating the power of a wish."
"As one of the WNBA marketing partners, General Motors' contributions to the Make-A-Wish foundation demonstrate their commitment to the community," said WNBA Vice President, Marketing Partnerships Mary Reiling Spencer. "They have continuously shown their support for our league, our fans and the communities in which they live. The WNBA is proud to continue its relationship with GM."
Five-time WNBA All-Star Chamique Holdsclaw of the Washington Mystics, and two-time WNBA All-Star Mwadi Mabika of the Los Angeles Sparks led all players in 2004, each winning General Motors Player of the Game honors three times during the regular season. Two of Mabika's teammates, Lisa Leslie, who also won the 2004 WNBA MVP award presented by General Motors, and 2003 WNBA All-Star MVP Nikki Teasley, won the award twice and once, respectively. Six other players earned General Motors Player of the Game honors on two occasions during the year including 2004 WNBA Finals MVP Betty Lennox of the Seattle Storm, who won the award in Games 2 and 3 of the WNBA Finals. Other two-time winners were Lauren Jackson (Seattle Storm), Swin Cash (Detroit Shock), Crystal Robinson (New York Liberty), Tina Thompson (Houston Comets) and Tangela Smith (Sacramento Monarchs).
Below is a complete list of the 2004 General Motors Player of the Game winners:
WNBA General Motors Players of the Game
Date Player Team
May 22 Diana Taurasi Phoenix Mercury
May 29 Nikki Teasley Los Angeles Sparks
June 3 Lauren Jackson Seattle Storm
June 5 Tina Thompson Houston Comets
June 17 Chamique Holdsclaw Washington Mystics
June 19 Swin Cash Detroit Shock
July 1 Chamique Holdsclaw Washington Mystics
July 8 Chamique Holdsclaw Washington Mystics
July 10 Swin Cash Detroit Shock
July 10 Mwadi Mabika Los Angeles Sparks
July 11 Crystal Robinson New York Liberty
July 15 Tina Thompson Houston Comets
July 22 Katie Smith Minnesota Lynx
July 29 Mwadi Mabika Los Angeles Sparks
July 31 Tina Thompson Houston Comets
Sept. 9 Lisa Leslie Los Angeles Sparks
Sept. 12 Katie Douglas Connecticut Sun
Sept. 12 Lisa Leslie Los Angeles Sparks
Sept. 16 Yolanda Griffith Sacramento Monarchs
Sept. 19 Barbara Farris Detroit Shock
- WNBA Playoffs -
Sept. 24 Tangela Smith Sacramento Monarchs
Sept. 26 Mwadi Mabika Los Angeles Sparks
Sept. 27 Lauren Jackson Seattle Storm
Sept. 28 Crystal Robinson New York Liberty
Sept. 28 Tangela Smith Sacramento Monarchs
- WNBA Finals -
Oct. 8 Lindsay Whalen Connecticut Sun
Oct. 10 Betty Lennox Seattle Storm
Oct. 12 Betty Lennox Seattle Storm
General Motors (NYSE: GM), the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, designs, builds and markets cars and trucks worldwide, and has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. GM employs approximately 355,000 people around the world. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.
In 2004, for the sixth consecutive season, more than 2 million fans attended WNBA games. As the premium women's sports league, the WNBA is the destination for the best women's basketball players in the world. For more information, visit wnba.com.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from December 16, 2004
- WNBA Names Dee Kantner Supervisor of Officials - WNBA
- General Motors Donates $28,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation on Behalf of WNBA Players - WNBA
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