NEW YORK, AUGUST 7, 2006 - The Women's National Basketball Association and Southwest Airlines will recognize the Wohlford family of Roanoke, VA for their display of strength and courage during their stay at the Ronald McDonald House. For the second straight year the WNBA and Southwest Airlines have teamed up through the Shoot for Hope program to give families who have stayed at Ronald McDonald Houses the opportunity to experience WNBA games and meet their favorite players. Shoot For Hope is a part of WNBA Cares, the league's global community outreach initiative.

The Wohlford family, 12-year-old Haley along with her mother, father and sister, will travel via Southwest Airlines from Baltimore, MD to Chicago where they will be special guests at the Chicago Sky vs. Connecticut Sun game on Tuesday, August 8. They will have the opportunity to catch Rookie of the Year contender Candice Dupree and the Sky take on All-Star MVP Katie Douglas and the Sun.

Haley Wohlford, who was born with Hypochondroplasia, a genetic disorder characterized by small stature and disproportionately short arms, legs, hands and feet (short-limbed dwarfism), and her family have been staying at the Ronald McDonald house in Baltimore, MD while Haley undergoes a limb lengthening procedure. Within the last two months, Haley has gained over four inches, making her approximately
4-7.

"Haley is a very brave girl" said her mother, Marcy. "She has been under tremendous pain and stress the past two months but manages to keep positive and look forward to days when her life will get easier.

"Going to women's basketball games at Virginia Tech is a regular family activity back at home and we're looking forward to taking this small break together and attending our first professional basketball game."

Besides interacting with players and coaches at the game, the Wohlfords will also receive a variety of gifts, including WNBA memorabilia.

About Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), the nation's largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers enplaned, currently serves 62 cities in 32 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,100 flights a day and has over 31,000 Employees systemwide.

About WNBA Cares
Through WNBA Cares, the WNBA is deeply committed to creating programs that improve the quality of life for all people, with a special emphasis on promoting a healthy lifestyle and positive body image, breast health awareness, youth and family development, and education.

WNBA Cares is a part of NBA Cares, an initiative through which the league, its players and teams will raise and contribute $100 million for charity, donate more than 1 million hours of hands-on volunteer service to communities worldwide, and build more than 100 places where kids can learn and play over the next five years.