NEW YORK – To celebrate the WNBA’s historic 20^th season, the WNBA and NBA family will host 20 youth basketball events during Jr. WNBA Week (May 7-15) leading into the tip-off of the WNBA regular season Saturday, May 14.  The Jr. NBA presented by Under Armour, the league’s youth basketball participation program for boys and girls ages 6-14, teaches the fundamental skills as well as the core values of the game at the grassroots level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents.

Each WNBA team along with the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, and Washington Wizards will celebrate Jr. WNBA Week by collectively hosting 20 youth basketball events in their communities.  The WNBA will also host a national Jr. WNBA Week event on Monday, May 9, featuring WNBA President Lisa Borders and former WNBA stars Teresa Edwards and Sue Wicks leading a basketball clinic for 150 girls at Williamsburg Community Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.  Details on each team’s events will be available on individual team websites.

“Celebrating youth basketball with Jr. WNBA Week is a fitting way to tip off our historic 20^th season,” said Borders.  “By teaching youth the fundamentals and values of the game, we can help cultivate the next generation of WNBA fans.”

As part of the NBA and WNBA’s expanded youth basketball efforts launched in October 2015, the leagues established the Jr. NBA Leadership Council to help provide direction on the program’s development and evolution.  The council consists of prominent basketball influencers and stakeholders, including 2015 WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne, 10-time WNBA All-Star Tamika Catchings, 2014 WNBA Rookie of the Year Chiney Ogwumike, WNBA All-Star Skylar Diggins, Chicago Sky head coach Pokey Chatman, Seattle Storm head coach Jenny Boucek, WNBA legend and ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo, and WNBA legends Jennifer Azzi, Teresa Edwards and Dawn Staley.

For more information about the Jr. NBA, visit www.JrNBA.com and the Jr. NBA app.

About the Jr. NBA presented by Under Armour
The Jr. NBA presented by Under Armour is the league’s youth basketball participation program that teaches the fundamental skills as well as the core values of the game at the grassroots level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents.  Through a network of affiliated youth basketball organizations, live events and interactive experiences, the Jr. NBA will reach five million youth ages 6-14 in the U.S. and Canada over a two-year period as part of its expanded efforts launched in October 2015.  The Jr. NBA partnership network is comprised of youth basketball programs of all NBA, WNBA and NBA Development League teams as well as elementary and middle schools, military installations and longstanding community partners, including Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Jewish Community Centers of North America, National Association of Police Athletic Leagues, National Recreation and Park Association, National Wheelchair Basketball Association, Special Olympics, and YMCA of the USA.

About the WNBA
The WNBA, which features 12 teams, is a unique global sports property combining competition, sportsmanship, and entertainment with its status as an icon for social change, achievement, and diversity.  The league, which counts Verizon as its leaguewide marquee partner, will begin its 20^th season on May 14, 2016.

Through WNBA Cares, the WNBA is deeply committed to creating programs that improve the quality of life for all people, with a special emphasis on programs that promote a healthy lifestyle and positive body image, increase breast and women’s health awareness, support youth and family development, and focus on education.  For more information on the WNBA, log on to www.wnba.com.