Happy Girls and Women’s Sports Day: Look Who’s Playing

I’d like to wish you a happy girls and women’s sports day!

The theme for today is Look Who’s Playing, which shows how athletes who played or are still playing, are making a difference, overcoming difficult circumstances, breaking records and making things possible.

My favorite resource (so far) is this photo gallery which showcases the 35 most memorable moments since Billie Jean King inspired a generation of men and women when she beat Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes. (so inspiring)

If nothing else, the most important thing you can do today is take action. Check out this page from the National Women’s Law Center to encourage your elected officials to pass these two important, bipartisan bills that will make a huge difference in the lives of girls.

On a professional level (correct me if I’m wrong) it looks like the WNBA is taking the lead with support for this day.

Check out the below video about why the WNBA matters, as well as an accompanying letter that I recieved from Donna Orender, the president of the WNBA. Donna, thanks for taking the lead on this.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vkuXg5yxYs&eurl=http://www.womensvoicesforchange.org/2009/02/national-girls-and-women-in-sports-day-why-the-wnba-matters.html&feature=player_embedded

From Donna Orender, President, WNBA:

Tension and passion hung in the air in the final electrifying seconds of Game 2 of the WNBA Western Conference Finals on Sept. 27. In front of a packed home crowd at the AT&T Center, the San Antonio Silver Stars’ Sophia Young hit a 14-foot turnaround jumper at the buzzer to fend off elimination from the Los Angeles Sparks. At this moment, someone leaned over to me and whispered, “You must be so proud of all this.”
It was one of many incredible moments that define our league. At these times, I am grateful for the messages the league delivers to young women that sweat and grit are permissible and to young males that strong and athletic women will populate their future.
The WNBA formed just 12 years ago, and it continues to blaze trails. The markers of success are familiar in the American sports landscape – corporate partnerships, network television broadcasts, the rhythm of a season from training camp to All-Star to playoffs. It’s the trailblazers who are different.

This WNBA is defining what an investment in our female youth can yield.

With these role models before them, young women are playing sports in exponentially increasing numbers. The health benefits of this participation have been well documented: the lowering of heart disease and cancers, and the rise in self-esteem and school performance. Far less commonly recited, however, are the enormous social benefits. Sports is a pervasive cultural presence; its language is the language of business and the currency of status, clearly dominating the hallways and corner offices of the global corporate landscape. Up until now, women have been largely sidelined, kept away from the enormous profits and other considerable benefits that being a valued member of this sports society generate. The WBNA says to young women that they can earn a seat at this table by showing them that they’re invited to dinner in the first place.
Our league sits uniquely at the crossroads of Main Street USA, with an atmosphere and accessibility that encourage families to gather for a game that speaks to America’s values and work ethic. In a day and age when community leaders, politicians and parents simply ask for positive role models for their children, we find one right in front of us: the WNBA, a league where teamwork and hard work are prized, and athletes’ raw passion to play and compete are front and center from opening tip to closing buzzer.

After 12 years, the WNBA deserves more credit and more importantly, greater support for its considerable accomplishments. By just existing, it continues to encourage significant numbers of young women to compete, compete in all fields of endeavor.

Our fans have responded to the high level of play by pushing increased attendance, TV ratings, Web traffic and merchandise sales. These women are spreading this work ethic and universal language around the world – note the 41 current-and-former WNBA players on Olympic rosters in Beijing, including the 12 members of Team USA who brought home their fourth consecutive gold medal.

Progress has been made and yet for all of us who are involved with girls and women’s sports, the gap is still wide and perceptions still slow to change. In a world that is turning upside down and inside out as we try to buckle our seat belts, my hope is that the shift in the earth’s tectonic plates helps us collectively recognize and actively support change.

If you have a daughter, a sister or a niece, then you fully understand the desire for her to have full access to all that is possible for her. Sports is a huge gateway. The WNBA is an iconic brand that is the most visible means of providing very positive imagery and role models who support all of her hopes and dreams and possibilities. Further, it provides major league sports entertainment rooted in value and values. Wow, life’s lessons are on sale, front and center, and at a great price.

The question we have to ask ourselves – are we willing to pay the price to keep the momentum going? As the women’s game continues to explode and play happens both below and above the rim, the drama of winning and losing are decisions that we effect each time we choose to support our young women with our time, attention and financial resources. Please choose wisely. I would tell you that the price for us to not support the WNBA and our young girls’ physical and spiritual development through sports is a very costly one.

The mission for the league is to lead, to inspire and to create change. It’s a rallying call every day. For me, it is both a professional and personal calling. It is about making a positive difference, which is everyone’s self-interest. The wonder of sports is that it is a place where passion rules and where fun and games form a solid foundation for winning, winning in the most important game, in the game of life.

Happy National Girls and Women in Sports Day!

Candace Parker is expecting…

…not another national championship, or WNBA title. Instead, she’s expecting a baby.

According to ESPN:

Candace Parker is expecting her first child this spring, and the WNBA star will keep working out leading to the 2009 season.

The announcement was made Wednesday by the University of Tennessee, where Parker starred before going on to the Los Angeles Sparks. Her husband is Shelden Williams of the Sacramento Kings.

Hat tip to Jane from Pretty Tough for the story…

LA Sparks, Girls Inc. unite powerful women to empower girls

On Monday, November 17, six of the most powerful women in television, philanthropy and sports were honored for their achievements in harnessing the media and entertainment to show girls a world without limits. They also seek to counter gender stereotypes, and create positive, empower messages.

The event was hosted by Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson at The Beverly Hills Hotel and supports Girls Incorporated, a nonprofit organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart and bold.

Apparently the event was a success – with over 300 people in attendance.

The women honored include:

- Carla Christofferson and Kathy Goodman, Owners, Los Angeles Sparks
- Brenda Freeman, Chief Marketing Officer, Turner Animation, Young Adults & Kids Media
- Lisa Ling, Special Correspondent to The Oprah Winfrey Show, Contributor to National Geographic, Nightline, and CNN
- Lisa C. Paulsen, President and Chief Executive Officer, Entertainment Industry Foundation
- Katherine Pope, President, Universal Media Studios

Cheryl Messer, Media Relations Manager of Girls Inc. passed the following information along (as well as the pictures included in this post):

As owners of the Los Angeles Sparks, Christofferson and Goodman exemplify the mission of Girls Inc. They had been season ticket holders of the Los Angeles Sparks since its inception, and transformed their love of basketball into a business venture when they purchased the team in 2006.

Christofferson is Managing Partner of the Los Angeles office of O’Melveny & Myers LLP and has been recognized as a Southern California “Super Lawyer” in a survey by Law & Politics Media Inc. Goodman currently teaches high school English and Social Studies at High Tech-LA, a local charter school. Previously, she served as a partner at the law firm of Katten Muchin Zavis and Weitzman and was a founder of Intermedia Films.

During her acceptance speech, Goodman said, “Girls now have role models in the sports community in professional sports. And for Carla and me, it’s more about what they do on the court and what all the men and women do in our front office to put that vision out there, so that both girls and boys see what it is that women can do in society.”

“I find Kathy and Carla especially inspiring because I learned in Girls Inc. that girls are just as good as the boys, and everyone should get their fair chance to participate. By showcasing the incredible players on their team in a positive way, they have made these athletes role models for young women like me everywhere,” said Brittany White, Girls Inc. National Scholar and presenter of the award to Christofferson and Goodman.

WNBA: Detroit Tops Liberty in the East, Sparks Eliminated by Stars in the West

Yesterday’s WNBA action was certainly exciting for both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals. The Detroit Shock beat NY Liberty 64-55, and LA Sparks were eliminated by San Antonio Silver stars, 76-72.

The two heroes of the day were Deanna Nolan of the Detroit Shock (pictured on the right) and Becky Hammon of the San Antonio Stars.

Deanna Nolan scored 22 points to lead the Shock in their victory over the Liberty in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals Sunday. They play again tonight at 7pm EST on ESPN2.

In the West, Becky Hammon led the Silver Stars in their Western Conference Championship by scoring 35 points and making four free throws in the final 36 seconds.

It was definately an exciting day for the WNBA. Tonight’s matchup will be equally exciting; I just wish we wasn’t so overpowered by all of the football coverage going on right now.

WNBA: Liberty offering cheap tickets Friday!

If you’re in the New York area on Friday night, you should consider getting tickets to the New York Liberty – they’re selling them, cheap!

In case you aren’t aware, WNBA is right in the height of their playoffs. Friday’s game will be a great preview and might be your last change to see a game.

Semifinals start Sunday:
Eastern Conference Finals: New York Liberty vs. Detroit Shock (Sunday, 3PM on ESPN)
Western Conference Finals: LA Sparks vs. San Antonio Stars (Sunday, 5PM on ESPN)

But if you’re in the NY area and want to catch a good game, click the picture below and enter the code STRETCH.

Suspensions Handed Out for WNBA Fight

The wrath has been disclosed in response to Tuesday night’s mayhem fight in the WBNA.

Detroit Shock assistant coach Rick Mahorn as well as 10 players were suspended for contributing to the fight that made headlines across the world. In total, four were ejected from the game on Tuesday night, and now eleven people received suspensions.

Here’s a quick recap of what happened (from ESPN): [Candace] Parker and [Plenette] Pierson got tangled up and fell to the court. Deanna Nolan tackled Parker and Mahorn appeared to push [Lisa] Leslie to the court. [Delisha] Milton-Jones responded by punching Mahorn in the back.

(The last part is my favorite!!!)

Plenette Pierson of the Shock was suspended for four games, the harshest penalty, for initiating and escalating the fight. Mahorn was suspended for two games, as were Shannon Bobbitt and Murriel Page of the Sparks. Sparks’ Candace Parker and DeLisha Milton-Jones, meanwhile, were banned one game each.

According to ESPN, here’s what the WNBA has to say about it:

“The WNBA and its players represent all that is good about sports: passion, hard work and sacrifice,” WNBA president Donna Orender said in a statement released by the league. “On a nightly basis our players display extraordinary skill, athleticism and competitive fire. The events Tuesday, however, were inexcusable and in no way indicative of what the league stands for. We hold our players to a very high standard and these suspensions should serve notice that the behavior exhibited at the end of Tuesday’s game will not be tolerated.”

Though I would never approve of the behavior exhibited the other night, I have to say, ladies – you did a great job of showing the world that you have aggression, a value that is coveted in the highly-popularized sports of our male counterparts.

Mahorn did an excellent job of making himself look like an asshole.

The disciplinary action is well-deserved for all.

Fight Breaks Out in WBNA

In a game last night between Detroit and Los Angeles, a fight broke out. It seems like there was a long of pushing and shoving, but it boiled down to Candace Parker of the LA Sparks and Plenette Pierson of Detroit Shock. The benches cleared on this one.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE4s3C93Ex4]

Well, this is one way we can draw fans and attention. (Not so sure if it’s the type of attention we want, though)