February 4, 2008
Contact: Mike Christie, Assistant Commissioner

USA South Teams Support "Think Pink Week"

(Fayetteville, NC) - The USA South Athletic Conference is pleased to announce its involvement with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's (WBCA) "Think Pink Week". This program is a global, unified effort for the WBCA's nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. The USA South's participation in the "Think Pink" initiative will include all ten women's basketball teams and take place on February 8-17. The Conference has supplied each team with pink shoelaces to be worn during each game throughout the week. The men's programs at some of the USA South institutions will also be supporting the cause by wearing the pink shoelaces. In addition, game officials will be equipped with pink whistles to use during each contest.

"The USA South is proud to support and promote an initiative that touches the lives of so many people," stated Rita Wiggs, USA South Athletic Conference Commissioner. "Our hope is to make a difference in breast cancer awareness support and research."

Individual institutions have also chosen to go beyond simply wearing the pink shoelaces. Many teams will be collecting money through donations and merchandise sales to give to various organizations such as the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and other local organizations for breast cancer awareness and support. Additionally, many schools will incorporate pink in their uniforms in the form of pink socks, pink warm-up shirts and custom-made pink jerseys. In many cases, those fans who wear pink to the games will be admitted free of charge. Please visit your local institution's athletic website for information on their involvement in "Think Pink Week".

For more information on the WBCA's "Think Pink" initiative, please visit: http://www.wbca.org/releases/2008ThinkPinkPR.htm