San Diego Siege Embraced
November 9, 2005 - National Women's Basketball League (NWBL)
San Diego Siege News Release
Holding court on the Outdoor Concourse of City Hall, the National Women's Basketball League's newest team, the San Diego Siege, held their first press conference on November 1st.
The event drew attention from fans, all major media outlets; from the Union Tribune, to NBC, CBS, FOX, and KUSI, and excitement from Deputy Mayor Toni Atkins, who also spoke at the event. Her feelings toward the Siege were passionate and clear.
"Today is truly a great day for San Diego and women's professional basketball and women's sports in general," Atkins said. "And I assure you, I will be there at those games and I hope that you will join me."
Atkins is a former high school and collegiate women's basketball player herself, and like many San Diegans, is a huge sports fan. "I can not tell you how truly excited I am to be given the honor to announce that we are bringing the first professional women's basketball team to San Diego," Atkins said. "The National Women's Basketball League features some of America's best professional female athletes, so you can imagine we are all excited that San Diego now has another professional sports team to call home, and in particular I'm thrilled that it's a women's team."
Atkins went on to explain the importance of professional women's sports: "I think it's so important that we have role models for our kids, not just for our male athletes and our young men but for our young women," she continued. "The Siege players are great mentors for our youth and will make terrific role models for all San Diegans.
"It's going to take a lot of support from this community to welcome and keep this team here," Atkins said. "I will lead the charge and I will be there for them and I challenge you to do this for your young women here in this community so that we set the right example for all our kids, the young men and the young women."
President and co-founder of the NWBL Patrick Alexander also spoke at the press conference.
"This is the hottest, best game in town; you are really in for a treat," Alexander said. "We want to thank the media for being progressive and coming out to supporting us today"
Alexander is also a San Diego resident. "The time is now to bring professional women's sports back to San Diego," said Alexander. "This town can support it and we are looking forward having you fill the stands."
Alexander is excited about his league, not just for the ability to showcase top notch athletes, but also for the NWBL experience those in attendance will enjoy.
"We are going to be in an arena where you can reach out and touch some of these players, and when the game ends you'll get autographs." Alexander said. "It's really a fabulous opportunity for young girls that strive to become professional athletes; this is where it starts."
Earlier that day, the Siege signed their first player to an official contract, former UCLA point guard and a member of the NWBL's San Jose Spiders in 2005, Natalie Nakase.
Former USC and the WNBA's Utah Starzz head coach Fred Williams lent his support of the upcoming season.
"We've got a lot of work ahead of us, I have a lot of work ahead of me for bringing some world class players into the league," Williams said. "I've done it in the WNBA, coaching players like Tina Thompson, Cynthia Cooper, back in the day Cheryl Miller, Lisa Leslie on and on and on. I plan to do the same thing in San Diego."
Williams reminded the audience that his job isn't just winning a championship, it is also setting a good example for young basketball players, and that he will be leading basketball camps and clinics between now and the beginning of the season.
Alexander, Atkins and Williams all announced the San Diego Siege era begins today.
"This is the first step, the first day, the first commitment," Williams said. "With all the media here today, stay committed to us also, and we will stay committed to you with a good product on the floor, and making some things happen for you in the month of February, and you'll see some good play with some good players."
For information about season tickets and single game tickets or any other questions about the San Diego Siege visit www.nwbl.com and contact Siege general manager David McElwee at 619.398.8399 or davidmcelwee@nwbl.com.
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National Women's Basketball League Stories from November 9, 2005
- San Diego Siege Embraced - San Diego Siege
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
