Women's basketball Pink Zone raises money for cancer research

The Pink Zone week raised more than $930,000 last year.

By Evan Glantz

Published Feb. 19, 2009

The Missouri Tigers women's basketball team pulled off a stunning upset against the No. 16 Kansas State Wildcats on Wednesday, winning by a score of 52-43. But both teams scored a victory on the night by participating in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Pink Zone game in support of breast cancer awareness.

According to WBCA.org, the group's mission statement says that "The WBCA Pink Zone initiative is a global, unified effort for the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond."

The WBCA started the Pink Zone in 2007. On Wednesday, Missouri and Kansas State took center stage for the weeklong event.

"This is a huge game across the country for everybody, especially with coach (Kay) Yow passing away," coach Cindy Stein said. "We've got to do more to find a cure for breast cancer. Until we do, we need to make sure we have these games every year. The more we can do, the better because every single one of us has been affected."

Kay Yow, the former women's basketball coach of North Carolina State, died earlier this season. She was a strong supporter of breast cancer research and helped establish the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.

Last year, the Pink Zone week consisted of over 120 teams nation-wide, and helped raise more than $930,000 for breast cancer awareness and research, according to WBCA.org.

"It's just phenomenal that the women's game has brought such attention to the cause of breast cancer," Wildcats coach Deb Patterson said. "And as an organization, it has really tried to support the research and the campaign for a cure. Anytime as a sport and as individuals we have a platform in which we can bring attention to the cause, it's tremendous. I certainly appreciate everyone in the crowd tonight that came to support the Pink Zone cause."

As Patterson said, the fans were able to show their support for a cure as well. The first 500 fans received a free T-shirt, and those who came to the game sporting pink got in for $2. According to the media guide, all the money raised went to the Mid-Missouri Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Kay Yow Foundation. In addition, both teams honored breast cancer survivors at halftime.

"Women coaches of women's teams can be such ambassadors for raising awareness of breast cancer, and for people who we wouldn't otherwise reach," Komen board member Brenda McSherry said. "People who are sports fans and women's athletic fans can have a big impact on spreading the word about breast cancer awareness. I don't know if we'll ever know the whole impact. But the more the word gets out, even if we just reach one woman, we could prevent lives from being lost."