WNBA Mind. Body. Spirit. kicks off second season
Published on May 25, 2004 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release
NEW YORK, May 25, 2004 â The Women's National Basketball Association tips off the second season of "WNBA Mind. Body. Spirit.," the centerpiece of the league's community and cause-related outreach programs. This initiative continues the WNBA's role in getting adults and kids to focus on the importance of good nutrition, regular exercise and a positive self-image.
"Last season the league successfully launched WNBA Mind. Body. Spirit., reaching thousands of fans young and old across the country," said Kathy Behrens, NBA Community Relations Vice President. "WNBA players are outstanding role models for this program; they represent the very best of strong minded women committed to excellent health."
This season, WNBA teams will host "WNBA Mind. Body. Spirit." events across the country including:
Sacramento Monarchs: May 8-Maloof Sports & Entertainment and the entire Sacramento Monarchs team walked in the local Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation "Race for the Cure" and joined in interactive games and activities at the Expo Building.
San Antonio Silver Stars: May 17-Silver Stars Jessie Hicks and Tai Dillard joined students from the George Gervin Youth Center for Etiquette Class in partnership with the WNBA Mind. Body. Spirit. program, the Spurs Foundation, The Palm Restaurant and The Protocol School of Texas.
Indiana Fever: May 18-The entire Fever team joined together for an hour-long event at Winchester Village Elementary School. The players and children were divided into groups where players helped facilitate a number of activities and games focusing on the program's initiatives. Each of the players also read the children a book about basketball, exercise, nutrition or self-esteem related issues.
Houston Comets: May 19-The Comets Octavia Blue visited more than 100 children at Macgregor Elementary and where she read to the children, talked to them about living a healthy lifestyle and about the importance of a having a positive self-image and good self esteem.
Washington Mystics: May 19-Chamique Holdsclaw, Tamischa Jackson, Aiysha Smith, Kiesha Brown and Murriel Page hosted a "WNBA Mind. Body. Spirit." clinic at Kennedy Recreation Center.
Los Angeles Sparks: May 20-The Sparks tipped off their second Mind.Body.Spirit campaign with a school assembly as Roosevelt Elementary School in Compton. More than 200 kids were in attendance as Christi Thomas and Tamika Whitmore talked about educating the mind, proper eating habits and personal goals. Tamika and Christi got the kids involved by asking questions and talking to them about how they reached their goals of playing in the WNBA. To top off the event, Book Buddies by Molina Healthcare donated 500 books to their school library on behalf of the LA Sparks.
New York Liberty: May 25-WNBA President Val Ackerman, WNBA Legend Carla McGhee will join New York Liberty Stars Vickie Johnson, Crystal Robinson, K.B. Sharp and Shameka Christon at The School for the Future in New York City to hold a Mind. Body Spirit. Challenge with a Sixth grade Health Class. Students will be rotated through three challenges-nutrition, exercise and positive attitude, to acquire points to determine the winner of the WNBA Mind. Body. Spirit. Challenge.
The league has also announced the members of the WNBA Mind. Body.
Spirit. Team:
Charlotte Sting-Dawn Staley
Connecticut Sun-Candace Futrell
Detroit Shock-Ruth Riley
Houston Comets-Octavia Blue
Indiana Fever-Tamika Catchings
Los Angeles Sparks-Nikki Teasley
Minnesota Lynx-Vanessa Hayden
New York Liberty-Crystal Robinson
Phoenix Mercury-Anna Deforge
Sacramento Monarchs-Edna Campbell
San Antonio Silver Stars- Tai Dillard and Shannon Johnson
Seattle Storm-Sue Bird
Washington Wizards-Chamique Holdsclaw and Tamicha Jackson
Through programs such as WNBA Breast Health Awareness, WNBA Mind. Body. Spirit, and WNBA Read to Achieve, the WNBA has helped to create a more comprehensive awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer, good nutrition, regular exercise, and a positive self-image, and has worked to bring the joy of reading to millions of children across the country.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from May 25, 2004
- DeMya Walker receives Offseason Community Assist Award - Sacramento Monarchs
- WNBA Mind. Body. Spirit. kicks off second season - WNBA
- Sacramento Monarchs weekly update - Sacramento Monarchs
- Taurasi at NBA Draft Lottery - Phoenix Mercury
- Charlotte Sting To Host Read To Achieve Tip-off Event - Charlotte Sting
- Charlotte Sting Weekly Update - Charlotte Sting
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.
