ESPN Celebrates 10th Year of Play 4Kay on February 21 & 22

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Eight-ranked teams to be showcased across ESPN2 & ESPNU

Play 4Kay – celebrating its 10^th year across ESPN networks – continues to highlight the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, in partnership with The V Foundation and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), with five games across ESPN2 and ESPNU on Sunday, Feb. 21. Also included in the initiative are two top-25 matchups as part of ESPN2’s Big Monday presented by Delta series featuring No. 3 Notre Dame at No. 10 Florida State, followed by No. 4 Baylor at No. 20 Oklahoma on Monday, Feb. 22.

Play 4Kay is in memory of former NC State head coach Kay Yow, who lost her long, courageous battle with breast cancer in January 2009. The annual event unites a nation of coaches and players for a greater cause – to raise awareness and funds in support of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. During the 2015 ESPYS, the Kay Yow Cancer Fund announced a multi-year $1.25 million grant to The V Foundation in support of women’s cancer research initiatives. This grant continues the legacy of Yow and will fund an ovarian cancer research project at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla.

Eight teams listed in the Associated Press weekly poll will participate in this year’s Play 4Kay games: No. 3 Notre Dame, No. 4 Baylor, No. 6 Maryland, No. 10 Florida State, No. 14 Mississippi State, No. 19 USF, No. 20 Oklahoma and No. 24 Tennessee.

All Play 4Kay telecasts will be streamed live on WatchESPN, accessible on computers, smartphones, tablets and connected devices to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.

Production Highlights:

• ESPN women’s basketball analyst Rebecca Lobo will join host Adnan Virk as part of the network’s studio coverage for the Play 4Kay
• A feature highlighting Yow’s legacy.
• “I Play4” moments from players and coaches involved in Play 4Kay
• Former player interviews speaking on the relationship and specialness of Yow.

Game Highlights:

• Opening Play 4Kay on Sunday is an American Athletic matchup between No. 19 USF and Memphis (ESPNU, Noon)
• Yow’s former team NC State travels across town to take on North Carolina in an ACC tilt (ESPN2, 1 p.m.)
• 6 Maryland plays at Rutgers in a Big 10 showdown (ESPN2, 3 p.m.)
• Two SEC battles showcasing No. 24 Tennessee at LSU (ESPNU, 2 p.m.) and No. 14 Mississippi State at Ole Miss (ESPN2, 5 p.m.) close the day
• The ESPN2 Big Monday Presented by Delta series showcases four top-25 teams: No. 3 Notre Dame at No. 10 Florida State (7 p.m.), followed by No. 4 Baylor at No. 20 Oklahoma (9 p.m.).
• 11 Wooden Award Women’s Midseason Top 20 nominees will be playing on Sunday and Monday: Lindsay Allen (Notre Dame); Alaina Coates (South Carolina); Nina Davis (Baylor); Niya Johnson (Baylor); Brionna Jones (Maryland); Tiffany Mitchell (South Carolina); Brianna Turner (Notre Dame); Victoria Vivians (Mississippi State); Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (Maryland); Courtney Williams (USF) and A’Ja Wilson (South Carolina).

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• Leading into Play 4Kay, in-depth features on former Big 12 standouts Tiffany Jackson (Texas) and Chameka Scott (Baylor) and their ongoing fight against cancer
• Bracketologist Charlie Creme will recap the day’s biggest performances and examine how the results impact Bracketology
• Social Tiles – showcasing some of Coach Yow’s best sayings known today as Yow-isms – will be created in an effort to encourage social media engagement and conversation surrounding Play4Kay
• Online video segments associated with the Play 4Kay initiative

2016 Play 4Kay Schedule (Subject to change)

Kay Yow Legacy
Yow’s coaching career spanned more than 38 years, including 34 with NC State. She had a record of 737-344, which encompassed 20 NCAA championship bids, a Women’s Final Four appearance in 1998 and four ACC Tournament championships. She also served as the assistant women’s Olympic team coach in 1984 and head coach of the U.S. Olympic women’s gold medal team in 1988. She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002 and the inaugural NC State Hall of Fame in October, 2012. Yow won the inaugural Jimmy V ESPY for Perseverance Award in 2007.

The Kay Yow Cancer Fund
The Kay Yow Cancer Fund was officially founded on December 3, 2007 from the vision of the organization’s namesake Kay Yow, former NC State University head women’s basketball coach.  Coach Yow was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 before succumbing to the disease on January 24, 2009.  The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization committed to being a part of finding an answer in the fight against women’s cancers through raising money for scientific research, assisting the underserved, and unifying people for a common cause.  To date, the Kay Yow Cancer Fund has supported over $5.18 million in women’s cancer research and related programs focused on women’s cancers. For more information on the Kay Yow Cancer Fund or to make a donation, please visit www.KayYow.com.

About The V Foundation for Cancer Research
The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator.  Since 1993, the Foundation has funded more than $150 million in cancer research grants nationwide.  It awards 100 percent of all direct cash donations to cancer research and related programs.  Due to generous donors, the Foundation has an endowment that covers administrative expenses.  The Foundation awards peer-reviewed grants through a competitive awards process vetted by a Scientific Advisory Committee.  For more information on The V Foundation, please visit www.jimmyv.org.

The WBCA
Founded in 1981, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association promotes women’s basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is the WBCA’s charity of choice. For more information on the WBCA, please visit www.wbca.org.

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