WNBA Women's National Basketball Association

WNBA, FitTV and Discovery Health Channel team up to televise All-Star Skills Challenge

July 8, 2005 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release


NEW YORK, NY Friday, July 8, 2005 - The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) teams up with Discovery Health Channel and FitTV to help promote the league's new initiative, WNBA Be Smart-Be-Fit-Be Yourself. As part of the partnership, the two Discovery networks are televising the WNBA All-Star Skills Challenge simultaneously on Sunday, July 10 at 4 PM (ET/PT). In addition, the networks are airing a series of interstitials; each features WNBA All-Stars and offers health and fitness tips. The WNBA All-Star Game premieres live Saturday, July 9 at 4 PM (ET/PT) on ABC.

"We are so proud of the talent that exists in the WNBA and by partnering with the Discovery Networks to air our All-Star Skills Challenge, we're able to showcase that talent and bring the WNBA experience to even more fans across the country," said WNBA President Donna Orender. The WNBA All-Star Skills Challenge is an hour-long program showcasing the health and fitness platform of the WNBA's Be Smart - Be Fit - Be Yourself campaign. The initiative encourages young people and women to become physically active and raises awareness about how being fit improves health, self image and overall well being. The WNBA All-Star Skills Challenge is an exciting fast-paced basketball competition which includes eight WNBA All-Stars competing on a timed obstacle course. The course will include dribbling, passing and shooting stations. The skills challenge winner will have $15,000 donated to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in their name.

WNBA All-Stars Diana Taurasi of the Pheonix Mercury, Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm, Marie Ferdinand of the San Antonio Silver Stars and Demya Walker of the Sacramento Monarchs will compete for the WNBA Western Conference. Tamika Catchings of the Indiana Fever, Becky Hammon of the New York Liberty, Alana Beard of the Washington Mystics and Deanna Nolan of the Detroit Shock will represent the WNBA Eastern Conference.

Discovery Health Channel takes viewers inside the fascinating and informative world of health and medicine to experience firsthand compelling, real-life stories of medical breakthroughs and human triumphs. Currently in more than 58 million homes, Discovery Health Channel is the only 24-hour network and Web-discoveryhealth.com-devoted to what matters most-health.

FitTV is the premier, interactive fitness network that inspires consumers to improve their fitness and well-being. FitTV features entertaining, solution-based programming in nutrition, lifestyle, adventure and instruction that help people incorporate fitness in to their busy lives.

In addition to the ABC telecast, the 2005 WNBA All-Star Game will be broadcast in 193 countries by 52 telecasters in 31 languages giving fans the chance to witness the world's best women's basketball. The WNBA tipped off its ninth season on Saturday, May 21, 2005 under the leadership of new President Donna Orender. In 2004, for the sixth consecutive season, more than two million fans attended WNBA games. Also in 2004, three consecutive WNBA Finals sellout crowds witnessed the Seattle Storm defeat the Connecticut Sun to capture its first WNBA Championship. WNBA programming is broadcast on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and NBA TV. For more information, visit WNBA.com.

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