Sky, WNBA to Host Inspiring Women Week
Published on July 21, 2009 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Chicago Sky News Release
CHICAGO, July 21, 2009 - The Chicago Sky, in conjunction with the WNBA, will be tipping off Inspiring Women week on July 28. The week includes: Chicago Sky Service Project at Kelvyn Park on July 28, WNBA Inspiring Women's Luncheon on Wednesday July 29, Sky versus the Los Angeles Sparks Wednesday evening, Toyota Project Rebound at Hirsch Metro High School on July 30, and a Pitney Bowes Reading Timeout at the National Urban League Conference.
The week will start with the Sky's Service Project on Tuesday, July 28. The entire Sky team and staff will team up with Chicago Cares and head to 75-year-old Kelvyn Park on the city's northwest side in the predominantly Hispanic Hermosa neighborhood.
The event is scheduled from 1-4pm and where players will participate in a variety of tasks including repainting murals, ground games, basketball goals and court lines, benches, lockers, along with landscaping, installing new rims and building new park benches.
On July 29, the WNBA will host the Inspiring Women Luncheon at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers and present the WNBA Inspiration Award. The award will be presented to Cokie Roberts, political commentator for ABC News and senior news analyst for NPR news, for the inspiration she has provided for others through her commitment and dedication to work, family and community. The luncheon is scheduled for 10am-2pm CDT.
Following the luncheon the Sky will play host to the Los Angeles Sparks at the UIC Pavilion with tip-off at 7:00PM. This is a marquee match-up featuring the rivalry between hometown athlete Candace Parker and Lisa Leslie against Sky All Stars Candice Dupree and Sylvia Fowles. It also marks Leslie's final game in Chicago pending her retirement at the conclusion of the 2009 WNBA season. The last time the Sparks came to Chicago the Sky suffered an 80-67 defeat highlighted by Sylvia Fowles' goaltending violation, the first in WNBA history.
On Thursday the Sky will travel to Hirsch Metro High School for the Toyota Project Rebound beginning at 9:00AM. Hirsch, a Chicago Public School, recently enjoyed success when their girl's basketball team went 15-2 and earned a spot in the Wheaton (St. Francis) Regional tournament where they were defeated in the first round, with the Lady Huskies finishing the season as 2008-2009 Sectional Champions.
WNBA, Sky players and coach and three Los Angeles Sparks players will unveil renovations sponsored by Toyota and run an instructional clinic at the nearly 100 year old school. Renovations include resurfacing the floor, new backboards and rims, freshly painted walls and a new scoreboard.
The clinic will be run by Chicago Sky head coach and general manager, Steven Key. Three players from each team will help at the clinic. The Chicago players include Shyra Ely, and 2009 WNBA All-Star starters Sylvia Fowles and Candice Dupree. DeLisha Milton-Jones, Marie Ferdinand-Harris and Betty Lennox will be present to represent the Los Angeles Sparks.
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The week will wrap up on Friday July 31 with a Pitney Bowes Reading Timeout at the National Urban league Conference at the McCormick Convention Center. Candice Dupree and Sylvia Fowles will be there to read to 50 kids participating in the Chicago Public Libraries' summer reading program.
CHICAGO SKY
The Sky is one of six independently-owned teams in the WNBA, the world's longest-running women's professional sports league. Chicago is currently third in the WNBA Eastern Conference with a 7-7 record. The Sky's Sylvia Fowles currently leads the league at 8.6 rebounds per game. Forward Candice Dupree is 11th in the league in scoring at 15.8 points per game and guard Jia Perkins is 12th at 15.3. The Sky plays at the Chicago's UIC Pavilion. For more information or to purchase 2009 season tickets, visit www.chicagosky.net.
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