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The WNBA Teams Up With Local Organizations In Seattle For All-Star Weekend 2017

WNBA 

WNBA All-Stars such as Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx), Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Sylvia Fowles (Minnesota Lynx) , Breanna Stewart (Seattle Storm), Layshia Clarendon (Atlanta Dream), Sugar Rodgers (Atlanta Dream), Tiffany Hayes (Atlanta Dream), Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx),  Jay Parry (WNBA Chief Operating Officer), Allie Quigley (Chicago Sky) , Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun), Elizabeth Williams (Atlanta Dream), ESPN’s LaChina Robinson, ESPN’s Holly Rowe, WNBA President Lisa Borders gathered at both Mercer Island Boys and Girls Club of King County and Smilow Rainier Vista Girls & Boys Club.

Image Credit- Landon Buford 

As part of Jr. WNBA Week, which departs on Thursday, July 20, all WNBA teams and selects NBA teams will host youth basketball events throughout the country. The 10-day celebration will tip off at WNBA All-Star with a youth basketball clinic led by WNBA COO Jay Parry, WNBA All-Stars, and ESPN talent for approximately 100 girls ages 10-14 from local community establishments. All participants in the basketball clinic will also be invited to attend the 2017 WNBA All-Star Game.

During the workshop, The Hype Magazine had to opportunity speak with first time All -Star and a four time National Champion in college at the University of Connecticut Brenna Stewart and hear is what she had to say ” It is an amazing opportunity to be able to give back being that it this my first All- Star Game selection. When I was younger I was in their position wanting to play basketball and looking up to players in the WNBA. So, I am happy to be here and that we are able to host this event in Seattle.  She would later go on to say “I am just looking to enjoy All Star weekend there will be a lot of activities taking place and you don’t want to overlook the opportunities that you are given to you. I have been fortunate to be selected to this year’s team, but you never know if I will be able to have this opportunity again. So, I want to approach things from that point of view.”

Image Credit- Landon Buford 

 

Focused on building healthier communities, the WNBA and Kaiser Permanente, the nation’s largest integrated health organization, will host a variety of WNBA FIT Clinics throughout the country this year. On Friday, July 21, WNBA President Lisa Borders and WNBA All-Stars will host a basketball clinic and provide nutrition tips for 90 children from the Smilow Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club. As the NBA and WNBA’s first-ever healthcare partner, Kaiser Permanente serves as the leagues’ health care expert and strategic adviser. Through this partnership, Kaiser Permanente and the leagues have hosted more than 30 FIT clinics, employing more than 2,500 youth and seniors in communities throughout the United States since 2015. During the WNBA FIT Clinic, The Hype Magazine caught up with WNBA President Lisa Borders. Here is what she had to say”I’m thrilled to be here and our league is honored to partner with the city of Seattle and the Seattle Storm. They have done an extraordinary job working together and planning for All-Star Weekend.  In addition, the city of Seattle has shown tremendous support as they have embraced the team that is located here and of the league.  We had the opportunity to turn the city orange and were able to raise the WNBA Flag at the top of the Space Needle.  Lisa Borders would go on to talk about some their goals moving forward “Sustaining the growth of that we have been fortunate to generate with a 4.6 percent increase in attendance and double digital viewership in partnership with ESPN last season. This year we signed a deal with Twitter and we are averaging between 800,000 and 900,000 fans watching games on Twitter. We have also signed a deal with Fan Duel and we have nearly 400,000 playing the fantasy WNBA game. We use the traditional metrics such as fan attendance, viewership and we have a nod towards the future that involves key indicators that cater to the under generation. Those that play fantasy sports and those who watch on the social and digital platform. So, we will continue this growth and accelerate it.

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Written by Landon Buford

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