RSS Feeds E-News Sign Up Print
Photo gallery: Follow along as Katie Smith and other WNBA stars participate in WNBA Cares events. | WNBA Cares in New Orleans Photo: Chris Ivey/NBAE/Getty Images

Mercury players Olympia Scott and Jennifer Lacy are among the participants in a ribbon-cutting celebration at a WNBA Cares Reading Corner in Phoenix during the 2007 Finals. Photo: Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images

The WNBA is deeply committed to WNBA CARES programs that improve the quality of life for all people, with a special emphasis on promoting health and fitness, breast health awareness, reading and youth basketball programs. As we look forward to the 12th season of the WNBA, the league and its players continue to be recognized for their commitment to the community.
WNBA Cares Fact Sheet

WNBA CARES spots:

  • Cappie Pondexter, Tina Thompson and Tamika Catchings promote a healthy, active and safe lifestyle for teens
  • Sheryl Swoopes, Candice Dupree and Tangela Smith build houses with Habitat for Humanity
  • Swin Cash, Deanna Nolan and Katie Smith dedicate a new reading and learning center in Flint, Mich.

    Recent WNBA CARES events:

  • Monarchs unveil Reading and Learning Center
  • Liberty celebrate Breast Health Awareness Month
  • Shock's library renovation a boon to Pontiac school
  • Silver Stars host 5K run/walk for charity
  • Lynx take reading T.O.

    READ TO ACHIEVE
    Read to Achieve is a year-round, league-wide initiative supported by NBA, WNBA and NBA D-League teams that promotes the values of reading and on-line literacy and encourages families and adults to read regularly with young children. The program includes thousands of reading time-outs, the donation of books and literacy materials, and the creation of Reading and Learning Centers and Reading Corners throughout the world.

    National and local All-Star Reading Teams have been formed consisting of current and former NBA and WNBA players and other members of the NBA and WNBA family, who promote reading efforts through in-arena events, public service announcements and school and community appearances throughout the year.

    Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA
    The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA believes that lessons learned on- and off-the-court as a member of a team are lessons that are infinitely useful in building relationships at school, home and work. By stressing fundamental skill development, teamwork, sportsmanship and positive adult participation, the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA aims to develop a life-long passion for the game of basketball by providing a support structure that not only encourages participation, but also makes the game fun and rewarding for players, coaches, officials and parents.
  • BREAST HEALTH AWARENESS
    See your team's community involvement!

    The WNBA Breast Health Awareness program focuses on generating awareness and educating women about breast cancer in addition to raising funds for the initiative.

    More than $2 million was raised by the WNBA, its players and teams to help fight breast cancer through Breast Health Awareness program. Highlights include online auctions featuring games of HORSE with WNBA and NBA Stars, memorabilia and other autographed items.

    BE SMART – BE FIT – BE YOURSELF
    The WNBA will embrace its responsibility as the preeminent women’s professional sports league with powerful role models to continue to deliver important messages and programs related to the areas of health, fitness, nutrition and self esteem.

    WNBA Be Smart - Be Fit - Be Yourself will encourage teens and women of all ages to learn more about their bodies and the importance of physical fitness. Programming has been developed to encourage teens and women to get started on “being fit” through small changes in their daily regimen.



    NOTHING BUT NETS

    WNBA Cares has partnered with the United Nations Foundation on their new initiative, Nothing But Nets, a grassroots campaign asking individuals to donate $10 to "send a net, save a life."

    Each $10 donation pays for an insecticide-treated bed net, distributes it to a family in need in Africa and provides education on proper use to prevent malaria. Please visit nothingbutnets.net to find out how you can send a net to save a life!

    Follow along as San Antonio Silver Stars center Ruth Riley blogs about her travels to Africa with Nothing But Nets.

    Watch the new PSA!

    Is a collaboratively developed program between Southwest Airlines and the WNBA to give deserving families who have stayed at the Ronald McDonald House and experienced challenging obstacles a chance to receive a special WNBA experience to inspire hope and support. Shoot For Hope is a part of WNBA Cares, the league’s global community outreach initiative.
    Choose Respect is an initiative designed to help adolescents form healthy relationships and to prevent dating abuse before it starts. This national campaign is designed to motivate adolescents to challenge harmful beliefs about dating abuse and take steps to form respectful relationships.

    The WNBA partners with the Centers for Disease Control on this worthwhile initiative.

    Osteoporosis is a largely preventable and treatable disease, yet one in two women and one in four men will break a bone due to osteoporosis in their lifetime. As the nation's leading voluntary health organization dedicated solely to osteoporosis and bone health, the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) is working to prevent osteoporosis and related fractures, promote lifelong bone health, help improve the lives of those affected by osteoporosis and to find a cure through programs of awareness, education, advocacy and research.

    The Step for Strong Bones is one such program. For more information, visit www.nof.org.

    Lynx point guard Lindsey Harding signs autographs at the U.S. Bank Lynx Go Pink! event to raise funds for breast cancer. (David Sherman/NBAE/Getty Images)


    WNBA CARES SPOTLIGHT
    'I Am Powerful'
    The Washington Mystics and CARE explain how realizing their own potential can help to empower girls and women in less fortunate situations around the world.

    Toyota, WNBA Announce New Initiative
    Toyota, the NBA and the WNBA have announced an unprecedented, season-long community outreach initiative called Toyota Project Rebound which will include 15 hands-on service projects that will be hosted by NBA teams and joined by volunteers from Toyota, NBA and WNBA offices.

    Monarchs Out in the Community
    The great tradition of the Sacramento Monarchs Read to Achieve Campaign kicked off its 2007 season as Monarchs players visited more than 400 kids at the Oak Ridge Elementary School to promote literacy to students.

    Liberty and Girls Inc.
    The New York Liberty is proud to announce our new partnership with Girls Incorporated of New York City and their participation in the WNBA Court of Dreams program.

    In the Community at NBA All-Star
    The WNBA and its players helped give back to fans and the Las Vegas community throughout NBA All-Star with week-long WNBA Cares activities.

    Sacramento wins Court of Dreams
    The Sacramento area Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis Clubs and YMCA teamed up to win an official WNBA basketball court for the Sacramento community by taking first place in last season’s WNBA Court of Dreams ticket sales contest.

    The Mystics Foundation
    The Washington Mystics spend endless amounts of time working at getting themselves in the best shape possible to play basketball. Now they’re starting a program that will teach young children about the importance of getting and staying in shape.

    Riley wins August Community Assist Award
    The WNBA Community Assist Award was created to honor the WNBA Players that reflect the passion that the league and its players have for their communities. The WNBA will recognize one player in each of the 13 WNBA team markets with an off-season Community Assist Award. In June, July and August, the WNBA chooses one player for the monthly, in-season award.

    Saturday
    May 17
    WNBA Opening Day 2008
    L.A. Sparks at Phoenix Mercury
    3:30 p.m. ET on ABC
    Tuesday
    May 20
    WNBA Tuesdays on ESPN2
    Sacramento Monarchs at Seattle Storm
    10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2
    Saturday
    May 24
    Seattle Storm at S.A. Silver Stars
    3:30 p.m. ET
    ABC
    Sign up for our free newsletter, contests and exclusive team information