MIAMI, Fla. - Miami SOL center Ruth Riley has been selected to receive the WNBA Community Assist Award for her community outreach efforts throughout the off-season. Since being selected by the SOL in the first round of the 2001 WNBA draft following a stellar career at Notre Dame, Riley has made an immediate impact in the South Florida area. She will be recognized with the award prior to the SOL�s home game against the Houston Comets on June 18 at the AmericanAirlines Arena.

The 2001 NCAA Player of the Year, Riley spent the WNBA off-season in South Florida making more than 50 community appearances while working with programs such as WNBA Read to Achieve, the Dade County Alliance Against Domestic Violence, WNBA Breast Health Awareness, the Miami Rescue Mission, the United Way of Broward County and the SOL Reading Rockhouse. For her work, she was recently honored as a Hometown Hero by the Florida Sports Awards.

Riley is among 16 players from each of the WNBA teams honored by the league for their off-season commitment to their communities. The other players honored by the WNBA are Dawn Staley, Charlotte Sting; Rushia Brown, Cleveland Rockers; Deana Nolan, Detroit Shock; Tammy Jackson, Houston Comets; Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever; Mwadi Mabika, Los Angeles Sparks; Val Whiting-Raymond, Minnesota Lynx; Sue Wicks, New York Liberty; Katie Douglas, Orlando miracle; Adrain Williams, Phoenix Mercury; Stacey Thomas, Portland Fire; Ruthie Bolton, Sacramento Monarchs; Natalie Williams, Utah Starzz; Tausha Mills, Washington Mystics.

The WNBA will donate $500 in the name of each off-season award winner to the charity of her choice.

Throughout the 2002 WNBA season, the league will select one player from across the league for the Community Assist Award. The WNBA will donate $5,000 to the charity of the winner�s choice.