WNBA Breast Health Awareness

As it has in each of the League’s previous eight seasons, the WNBA’s Breast Health Awareness Program works to generate awareness and educate women on what can be done to fight breast cancer in addition to raising funds for the initiative. The WNBA and its team have raised nearly $2,000,000 to aid in the fight against breast cancer.

Program Components | In-Arena Nights | Auction | About the Komen Foundation | Player Stories

WNBA and Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Team Up
The WNBA and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation have teamed up to help raise awareness and funds for the fight against breast cancer. Monarchs guard and breast cancer survivor Edna Campbell will serve as national spokesperson for the initiative along with other players. Read more

Program Components:
• National and local WNBA Breast Health Awareness spokespeople
• National partnership with Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
• Breast Health Auction
• WNBA team in-arena nights

In-Arena Nights:

Team	Game Date
Charlotte Sting	7/23
Connecticut Sun	6/28
Detroit Shock	7/31
Houston Comets	7/31
Indiana Fever	6/24
Los Angeles Sparks	8/13
Minnesota Lynx	8/7
New York Liberty	8/6
Phoenix Mercury	TBD
Sacramento Monarchs	6/24
San Antonio Silver Stars	8/5
Seattle Storm	6/15
Washington Mystics	TBD

WNBA fans in each team market can learn about the WNBA Breast Health Awareness initiative during speical in-arena nights devoted to promoting Breast Health Awareness. The goal of these nights is to heighten local awareness of the BHA initiative, generate local media support and encourage fan involvement.

Sparks players wore pink t-shirts at a Breast Health Awareness in-arena night during the 2002 season. Nathaniel S. Butler/WNBAE/Getty Images

Breast Health Auction:
Once again, the Komen Foundation will be the beneficiary of the WNBA's annual Breast Health Auction. This year's Auction will include autographed team memorabilia, WNBA merchandise and games of HORSE with WNBA players. Last year’s auction raised more than $70,000.

About the Komen Foundation:
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of 36. Today, the Foundation is an international organization with a network of more than 75,000 volunteers working through local Affiliates and events like the Komen Race for the Cure® to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. A global leader in the fight against breast cancer, the Foundation fulfills its mission through support of innovative breast cancer research grants, meritorious awards and educational, scientific and community outreach programs around the world. Together with its Affiliate Network, corporate partners and generous donors, the Komen Foundation has raised nearly $600 million for the fight against breast cancer.

Player Stories:

Edna Campbell's Inspirational Return
San Antonio's Edna Campbell, who missed most of the 2002 season while battling breast cancer, scored four points in 12 minutes as the Monarchs won their 2002 season finale 59-51 over Seattle.
Edna Campbell photo gallery
Campbell chat transcript

Connecticut's Katie Douglas Discusses her Mother's Fight Against Breast Cancer
"Life was pretty good for me during my sophomore year of college at Purdue University. I was 20 years old and had just come off winning a national championship. I traveled with USA Basketball during the summer with the World University Games Team, which was an awesome experience. But soon after I got back home, my mom, Karen, called everyone in my family and said she needed to talk to us." More...

Rebecca & RuthAnn Lobo Respond to Your Stories
During her junior year at the University of Connecticut, Rebecca Lobo learned that her mother, RuthAnn, had developed a malignant tumor in one of her breasts. Both Rebecca and her mother were confronted with a challenge that has changed their lives forever. They are both very willing to share their stories with you and wanted to hear about your fight, or how you've helped someone close to you in their battle. Here are a selection of some of your stories and their responses.

Lisa Leslie Responds to Your Stories
Lisa Leslie is almost unstoppable on the court, but when her mom, Christine Leslie-Espinoza found two lumps in her breast a few years ago, Leslie's world came to a standstill. Luckily, the lumps turned out to be benign, but both Lisa and her mother became determined breast cancer foes. More...