To celebrate the Sun’s first appearance in the WNBA Finals, the Salem School invited all of the Sun players, coaching staff, mascot and dance team to their school. This marked the first time that the entire team has appeared together at a community event.

The morning opened with a rally in the school’s gym. The entire school was assembled (K-8). You could hear the excitement before entering the room, the kids were screaming and stomping their feet. The principal and vice-principal spoke and welcomed Scotty B, our emcee for the event. Members of the Solar Power dance team then performed for the school. Students from the school formed a fan tunnel for the players and Blaze to run through. Scotty B introduced the team to the crowd individually. Debbie Black, when introduced, wowed everyone by doing a front handspring. Nykesha then took the microphone and spoke with the school about the importance of reading.

Following the rally, the team members split up to go into the classrooms. Most of the players went into classrooms in grades 3-5 reading parts of the book “Long Shot” by Marie Fowler. Asjha Jones and Blaze went into first and second grade classrooms to visit and pass out stickers and bracelets. Many of the students had made signs welcoming the team. Kindergarteners made drawings of what they enjoyed most at the rally. Blaze received some drawings that Blaze liked very much, so the staff brought them back to the office for everyone to enjoy.