WNBA DOUBLE-HEADER AND SEMINAR HIGHLIGHT WEEKEND
In case it may have slipped your mind...the Atlanta Dream will be part of a WNBA pre-season double-header at the KFC-YUM! Center Saturday night. There's also a great seminar going on Friday at the YUM! with some very impressive dignitaries. Here's the scoop:
ATLANTA DREAM TO HOLD INSPIRING WOMEN E.N.E.R.G.Y. SEMINAR SERIES LUNCHEON MAY 21 IN LOUISVILLE
--- Seminar, which will include former U of L standouts Angel McCoughtry and Jude Schimmel, will discuss “The Future of Women in Sports Leadership” ---
ATLANTA, May 14, 2015 – The WNBA Atlanta Dream announced today that it will hold a luncheon for its Inspiring Women E.N.E.R.G.Y. Seminar Series presented by The Coca-Cola Company on Thursday, May 21, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.
The topic for the luncheon will be “The Future of Women in Sports Leadership” and will feature an impressive array of panelists, many of whom will be in Louisville for the Atlanta Dream Classic – a doubleheader of WNBA games to take place on May 23 at the KFC Yum! Center. Headlining the lineup is former University of Louisville All-American and Olympic Gold Medalist Angel McCoughtry, currently of the Atlanta Dream, as well as another former U of L standout, Jude Schimmel, who just completed her career with the Cardinals and will be signing copies of her new book, “Dreamcatcher”.
Other panelists include Kara Lawson, currently of the Washington Mystics and a basketball analyst for ESPN, as well as another former Olympic Gold Medalist; Anne Donovan, head coach of the Connecticut Sun; Angela Taylor, President and General Manager of the Atlanta Dream; and Christine Herring, Senior Woman Administrator/Assistant Athletic Director at the University of Louisville. The event will be moderated by ESPN and FOX Sports basketball analyst LaChina Robinson. The event will also include a recorded video interview with Atlanta Dream owners Mary Brock and Kelly Loeffler.
“The Atlanta Dream is proud to showcase our Inspiring Women E.N.E.R.G.Y. Seminar Series with this event in Louisville,” said Taylor. “This will be a great opportunity to learn from an accomplished panel of women with a broad range of viewpoints on the direction women’s sports are headed. We are pleased to add this to the programming surrounding the Atlanta Dream Classic, and we know that the folks at the KFC Yum! Center will help us put on an outstanding event.”
The E.N.E.R.G.Y. Seminar Series is a central component of the Dream’s Inspiring Women platform, which supports the team’s objective to empower women. The platform is built on six key components:
· Empowering – Identifying topics that resonate with women in Corporate America such as career mapping and providing platforms to gain more knowledge on same
· Networking – Providing forums for women and men to connect with and learn from other like-minded colleagues
· Engaging – Hosting events that allow our community to engage with one another and celebrate inspiring women as well as serve as a culmination of our recognition, networking and empowering activities
· Recognizing – Identifying and showcasing women and girls who have positively impacted others through their deeds and accomplishments
· Growing – Providing growth opportunities for all people who interact with the initiative whether it be on a personal or professional level
· Year-Round – Emphasizing visibility and action 365 days a year
Tickets, which cost $40, can be purchased by clicking here, contacting inspiring.women@atlantadream.net or calling 1-877-977-7729.
University of Louisville women’s basketball season ticket holders and waitlist members are eligible for a pair of exclusive events this weekend at the 2015 Atlanta Dream Classic in the KFC Yum! Center.
Surrounding the first WNBA event in the Cardinals’ home venue, which features a doubleheader on May 23, season ticket holders and waitlist members can take part in a private signing with Jude Schimmel for her new book ‘Dreamcatcher’ and also participate in a meet and greet with members of the Louisville women’s basketball team.
Fans must have a ticket to the event to gain admission into the KFC Yum! Center. In order to attend the events, fans must have a photo ID and at least be on the waitlist by noon on Friday.
Before the second contest between the Washington Mystics and Atlanta Dream, which boasts Louisville All-Americans Angel McCoughtry and Shoni Schimmel, members of the Cardinals’ women’s basketball team will be available in a meet and greet from 6:30 p.m. until tip.
Fans looking to purchase season tickets for the Cardinals’ 2015-16 campaign can put down a $20 deposit per seat, and season ticket holders should expect renewal offers in June. A ticket office representative will be on hand to answer questions and take payment on the main concourse of the 100 level, or those interested can contact John Anderson at 502-852-8544.
paulie
Sounds like great fun for Louisville WBB and WNBA fans this weekend. Hopefully, the fans will show up in big numbers. Louisville would be a great spot for a WNBA franchise.
ReplyDeleteBlue Lou
From the e-mails...we get this entry for our May contest:
ReplyDeleteMy favorite UofL womens sports team is the softball team. My mom took me and my little sister to our first game two years ago and we loved it. I play softball and like to go watch the UofL players and try to learn from them. I am sad to see Whitney graduate because I am a shortshop too and I liked watching her play. I also like the peanut and shirt toss and the music that is played when the UofL team bats. I hope I am good enough to play in high school and college and it would be great if I am good enough to play for UofL someday.
(submitted by Sasha, who is 11 years old and quite the good writer!)
Paulie
They didn't invite Deb Antonelli? Paulie, you must be heart-broken!
ReplyDeleteDevastated. I'll wear black to the game.
DeletePaulie
anyone got a take on who the dream will start this year
ReplyDeleteI'll venture a guess and say DeSouza, Lyttle, Angel, Hayes and Shoni.
DeletePaulie
Looks like a great way to kick off the WNBA season. The league can use some positive momentum to offset the recent negative vibe out there. Hope it's a big success. Great exposure for our program too. If anyone knows the broadcasting details for the games or events it would be cool to post it up here.
ReplyDeleteI've seen a lot about Angel this preseason but almost nothing about Shoni even on the Dream web portals. I don't know if it's just a sophomore thing or if something else is at play. I guess we'll find out this weekend.
Amazing effort by Sasha on her softball piece for the contest. Cool that her family supports the Cards.
From the Washington Post.
ReplyDeleteThe only starting position that will be new is at point guard, where second-year player Shoni Schimmel will get first crack. Schimmel was named a WNBA All-Star as a rookie (where she won the MVP award) and averaged 8.3 points and 3.6 assists coming off the bench.
Now she will have to direct an offense that has a veteran frontcourt of Erika de Souza and Sancho Lyttle in addition to McCoughtry.
“My first year, I didn’t know what to expect,” Schimmel said. “I have a year under my belt and I know what I’m doing this year. I want to bring leadership. Last year, I didn’t know what my role was. Now I know what I’m doing.”
That's a good story. Interesting it's coming from the AP instead of a local Atlanta source. If Shoni gets the start at the One it will be her's to lose this season.
DeleteHoping that Shoni can step her defense skills up to WNBA level.
DeleteHead coach Michael Cooper was a defensive specialist when he played in the NBA. If anyone can teach her defense, it would be him...one would think.
DeletePaulie
An earlier story about the seminar also mentioned Shoni as a panelist. So will she be there?
ReplyDelete