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Eleven-ranked teams to be showcased across ESPN2 & ESPNU
Play 4Kay celebrates its 10th year – the annual event 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). Once again, five games will air across ESPN2 and ESPNU on Sunday, Feb. 21, plus two top-20 matchups as part of ESPN2’s Big Monday series featuring No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 10 Florida State and No. 5 Baylor at No. 19 Oklahoma on Monday, Feb. 22.
Play 4Kay unites a nation of coaches and players for a greater cause – 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.
Eleven teams listed in the espnW.com Way-too-early Top 25 poll will participate in this year’s Play 4Kay games: No. 3 Tennessee; No. 4 Maryland; No. 5 Baylor; No. 6 Notre Dame; No. 8 North Carolina; No. 10 Florida State; No. 11 Mississippi State; No. 19 Oklahoma; No. 21 USF; No. 22 LSU and No. 25 Rutgers.
Schedule Highlights:
- Opening Play 4Kay’s tripleheader on ESPN2 Sunday is Coach Yow’s former team NC State traveling to ACC foe No. 8 North Carolina at 1 p.m.
- Continuing on ESPN2, No. 4 Maryland faces Big Ten opponent No. 25 Rutgers at 3 p.m., followed by SEC in-state rivals No. 11 Mississippi State at Ole Miss at 5 p.m.
- ESPNU features a doubleheader beginning at noon with American opponents Memphis at No. 21 USF, followed by a top-25 SEC tilt showcasing No. 3 Tennessee at LSU at 2 p.m.
- The ESPN2 Big Monday showdown features a top-10 matchup between No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 10 Florida State at 7 p.m., followed by No. 5 Baylor at No. 19 Oklahoma at 9 p.m.
espnW.com will provide season-long original content and supporting material for ESPN’s top games, including leading into games with espnW’s national player-of-the-week and updated Bracketology from Charlie Creme, who accurately picked all 64 teams last year. The espnW season preview will run November 9-13. Also, additional columns and features will continue to be posted from Mechelle Voepel, Graham Hays, Michelle Smith and Kate Fagan, who have provided season-long content on the biggest storylines in the sport.
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.
2016 Play 4Kay Schedule (Subject to change)
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Network |
| Sun, Feb 21 | Noon | Memphis at No. 21 USF | ESPNU |
| 1 p.m. | NC State at No. 8 North Carolina | ESPN2 | |
| 2 p.m. | No. 3 Tennessee at No. 22 LSU | ESPNU | |
| 3 p.m. | No. 4 Maryland at No. 25 Rutgers | ESPN2 | |
| 5 p.m. | No. 11 Mississippi State at Ole Miss | ESPN2 | |
| Mon, Feb 22 | 7 p.m. | Big Monday: No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 10 Florida State | ESPN2 |
| 9 p.m. | Big Monday: No. 5 Baylor at No. 19 Oklahoma | ESPN2 |
The ESPN2 Big Monday schedule was recently announced; with the full women’s basketball regular-season schedule announcement planned for a later date.
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 nearly $150 million in cancer research grants nationwide. One hundred percent of the net proceeds from events support all the work of The V Foundation. 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 or to make a donation, 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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