Sun announces second annual Women in Sports essay contest

The WNBA’s Connecticut Sun is inviting Connecticut students in grades 4-8 to participate in the Second Annual Women in Sports Essay Contest in honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD).

All Connecticut students  interested in participating in the project may submit a one-page essay answering the question: “Who is your favorite female athlete and why?” All essays must be received by the Connecticut Sun front office by Fri., April 9. Sun players, along with members of the organization, will judge the essays.

NGWSD began in 1987 as a day to remember Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her athletic achievements and her work to assure equality for women’s sports. It has evolved into a day that acknowledges the past while recognizing current sports achievements, the positive influence of sports participation and the continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports.

One grand prize winner in the Sun contest will receive an exclusive school assembly with Sun mascot Blaze and/or players to recognize the winning student, essay and school. The winner will be recognized at a Sun pre-season game, receive four tickets to a pre-season game and have their essay posted on the team’s web site. Five runners-up, one from each grade level, will receive four tickets to a Sun pre-season game and their essays posted on the team’s web site. The first 50 entrants in the contest will receive a special gift from the Connecticut Sun as well as two complimentary tickets to a Sun pre-season game.
Entry forms are now available on www.connecticutsun.com.

WNBA All Star voting underway

The Beijing Olympics replaced the WNBA All-Star game last season, but online voting for the 2009 All-Star game begins this week.

Balloting will determine the starting lineups for the league’s premier event, which will be hosted by the Connecticut Sun on Saturday, July 25 and televised nationally on ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Fans worldwide will have the opportunity to select their favorite players as starters for the ninth All-Star Game by voting in person at WNBA arenas or online beginning June 15 at WNBA.com.

The 65 players included on the 2009 All-Star ballot represent all 13 WNBA teams. Voters will  select two guards, two forwards and one center from each conference. A write-in option is also available, allowing fans to choose players not listed on the ballot.

The WNBA All-Star Balloting Program will be conducted from June 14 through July 7.  Following the completion of fan voting, starting line-ups will be announced on July 14 during the nationally-televised Sun vs. Los Angeles Sparks game on ESPN2.  WNBA head coaches will then select the remaining All-Stars from their respective conferences, with the reserves announced on July 20.

The Western Conference dominated play by winning six straight before MVP Katie Douglas led the Eastern Conference to a 98-82 victory in the 2006 All-Star Game. The East followed that up with another victory in 2007, when Cheryl Ford poured in 16 points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds to earn MVP honors.

You can vote daily for your favorite players to be named to the team here and be eligible to win a trip for two to Mohegan Sun for the All-Star Game.

Fever acquires hometown star Katie Douglas in trade with Connecticut

Feb. 20, 2008 -In one of the biggest trades in Women’s National Basketball Association history, the Indiana Fever has announced the trade acquisition of former Perry Meridian High School and Purdue star Katie Douglas, from the Connecticut Sun.

In exchange for Douglas, Indiana has traded 2006 All-Star Tamika Whitmore and its first-round pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft, along with rights to shooting guard Jessica Foley (third-round pick in 2005 who has remained in Australia.)

Douglas, 28, was a WNBA MVP candidate during each of the past two seasons, a two-time All-Star and the 2006 All-Star Game MVP. She has been named to the WNBA’s All-Defensive Team every summer since 2005. The six-foot sharpshooter was a first-team All-WNBA selection in 2006 and a second-team pick last summer.

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