Three Former WNBA Players Inducted into Womens Basketball Hall of Fame

Ron Hoskins/NBAE/Getty Images JENNIFER AZZI Olympic Gold Medalist in 1996 Played on 13 USA Basketball Teams and compiled a record of 114-14 with those teams All-American Guard at Stanford, is the program�s all-time three-point shooter and holds Stanford�s record for assists in a game recording 16 against BYU in 1987-88 Was awarded the 1990 Wade Trophy and was named Naismith Player of the Year in 1990 One of the original players of the ABL, stared for the San Jose Lasers and appeared in all three all-star games (1996, 1997, 1998) Compiled a 101-23 record while at Stanford, and led the Cardinals to the 1990 National Championship Won two Pacific-10 Championships and was named PAC-10 Player of the Year in 1988- 1989 season and the 1989- 1990 season Played five seasons in the WNBA, Detroit Shock (1999), Utah Starzz (2000- 2002), and San Antonio Silver Stars (2002- 2003) Ronald Martinez/Getty Images CYNTHIA COOPER-DYKE Two-time Olympian (gold in 1988, bronze in 1992) and two-time National Champion at USC (1983, 1984) Four-time WNBA Champion with the Houston Comets (1997-2000) 1998 Women�s Professional Basketball ESPY Award Winner Currently the head coach of Prairie View A&M University Tallied an overall record of 114-15 in her four seasons at University of Southern California The first WNBA player to reach 500, 1000, 2000 and 2500 points Recognized as the 1998 Women�s Professional Basketball ESPY award winner 1998 Team Sportswoman of the Year by the Women�s Sports Foundation Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images JENNIFER GILLOM Member of the 1988 Gold Medal Olympic team Tallied a career record of 103-23 at Ole Miss, while appearing in four NCAA tournaments, including two Sweet Sixteens, two Elite Eights and three SEC West Titles Earned the 1985 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year award 1986 SEC Female Athlete of the Year Played seven seasons in the WNBA and was awarded the 2002 WNBA Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award Averaged 13.4 ppg and 4.5 rpg during her WNBA career, member of the 1999 WNBA all-Star Team The sports complex at Ole Miss is named �Gillom Sports Center� after Jennifer and her sister, Peggie Recipient of the 2002 WNBA Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award

Knoxville, TN - The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame will honor its eleventh group of inductees on June 13 at the Historic Bijou Theatre in Knoxville, Tenn.

The six members of the Class of 2009 are: Olympic gold medalist Jennifer Azzi, four-time WNBA champion Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, Ole Miss standout Jennifer Gillom, former Louisiana Tech head coach Sonja Hogg, former Illinois State head coach Jill Hutchison and legendary African American basketball player Ora Washington.

Jennifer Azzi was an All-American guard at Stanford. In 1990 she was awarded the Wade Trophy and named the Naismith Player of the Year. Azzi was an Olympic gold medalist in 1996.

Cynthia Cooper-Dyke won four WNBA championships with the Houston Comets. She was a two-time Olympian and two-time National Champion at the University of Southern California.

A standout at Ole Miss, Jennifer Gillom earned the 1985 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year award. She was a member of the 1988 Gold Medal Olympic team. Gillom was recently promoted to head coach of the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx.

Former Louisiana Tech head coach, Sonja Hogg compiled a record of 464-163 in 17 years of collegiate coaching and 3 years of high school coaching. Hogg started the Louisiana Tech women's basketball program and is credited with giving the team the nickname "Lady Techsters."

Former Illinois State head coach, Jill Hutchison became the first president of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association in 1982. In 28 seasons at Illinois State, Hutchison guided her teams to 428 wins and three NCAA tournament appearances.

Legendary African American athlete, Ora Washington was a standout center for the Philadelphia Tribunes where she lost only six games in her career, all of which were to men's teams. Washington was also a star tennis player and went undefeated in 12 years of play in the all-black American Tennis Association.

The 2009 Induction festivities will begin Friday, June 12, with a private inductee welcome event at the WBHOF at 6 p.m. Friday night's event is open to WBHOF inductees, past and present, their family and friends, and WBHOF Board Members. In addition to the official unveiling of the Class of 2009 exhibits in the Hall of Honor, each member of the Class of 2009 will receive a diamond basketball pin and a commemorative autographed basketball during a special presentation.

Saturday's events will kick off bright and early as those gathered in Knoxville for Induction weekend and Knoxville residents will lace up their shoes for a great cause to participate in the 4Kay� Run/Walk at 8 a.m. The 4Kay is in memory of Women's Basketball Hall of Famer Kay Yow, who lost her battle with breast cancer in January. All proceeds will benefit women's cancer research through the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund�.

At 10 a.m. the 4KayTM Run/Walk Awards presentation will take place at the WBHOF and at 10:30 a.m. there will be a Class of 2009 Autograph session in the WBHOF's north rotunda. The Autograph Session is open to the public, free of charge. In addition to attending the autograph session, the public can tour the WBHOF's museum free of charge from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday.

The Induction Ceremony will begin at the Bijou Theatre at 7 p.m. and guests will be invited to attend a Post-Induction Celebration and Silent/Live Auction at the WBHOF at 9 p.m. All proceeds from the silent/live auction will benefit the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. Auction packages will be listed on our website, www.wbhof.com, closer to the event. Transportation to and from the Bijou will be provided.

The Induction Ceremony will be hosted by ESPN women's Basketball Analyst and Hall of Fame Board Member Debbie Antonelli. During the ceremony, "The Dream," the WBHOF's official theme song, will be performed by Evelyn Jack. In addition to celebrating each inductee's crowning basketball achievements with the presentation of "The Eastman" award, the Induction ceremony will feature the music of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and the WBHOF Choir.

During Induction 2009, the WBHOF will observe the following special hours for the general public: Friday, June 12, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Saturday, June 13, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Sunday, June 14, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

More detailed information on the Induction festivities and the Class of 2009 Inductees is available at www.wbhof.com.