ATLANTA (May 16, 2012) - The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced today those individuals who have been elected or appointed to positions on the organization's executive committee and board of directors for the 2012-13 academic year.

Beth Burns, head coach at San Diego State University, has been elected to remain as secretary on the board's executive committee. Formerly a Division I at-large representative on the board of directors, Burns last year was appointed as secretary to fill the one year remaining on the term of University of Notre Dame associate head coach Carol Owens who became the Black Coaches and Administrators representative on the board.

In other election results:

• Moravian College head coach Mary Beth Spirk was re-elected to her position as an NCAA Division III at-large representative on the board of directors.

• Gonzaga University head coach Kelly Graves was elected to remain as the NCAA Division I West representative on the board of directors. Graves was appointed to the position last year when it was vacated by Joanna Boyle, who left the University of California, Berkeley, for the University of Virginia.

• North Carolina State University head coach Kellie Harper, former Valparaiso University assistant coach Kelly Komara, Gonzaga University assistant coach Lisa Mispley Fortier, Mississippi State University head coach Vic Schaefer and University of South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley were elected to first terms on the board of directors. Harper will represent NCAA Division I East coaches, Komara will represent NCAA Division I Midwest coaches, Mispley Fortier will represent assistant coaches, Schaefer will represent male coaches, and Staley will represent NCAA Division I coaches at large.

WBCA President Charli Turner Thorne, head coach at Arizona State University, also filled the following three positions on the board of directors by appointment:

• University of Kentucky head coach Matthew Mitchell was appointed to replace Curt Miller as the NCAA Division I Mideast representative. Miller, formerly the head coach at Bowling Green State University, was no longer eligible to serve in the position after accepting the head coaching position at Indiana University.

• Emory University head coach Christy Thomaskutty was appointed as the NCAA Division III legislative chair. Thomaskutty succeeds Worchester State University head coach Karen Tessmer, who was not eligible for re-appointment to the position after serving six years.

• Seward County Community College (Liberal, Kan.) head coach Toby Wynn was appointed to replace David Lane as the junior/community college representative. Lane, formerly the head coach at Chipola College (Marianna, Fla.), was no longer eligible to serve in the position after accepting an assistant coach position at Drake University.

The WBCA Board of Directors develops policies, procedures and regulations for the operation of the organization. They also monitor the organization's financial health, programs and overall performance and provide the chief executive officer with the resources to meet the needs of those the organization serves.

All terms of service begin Aug. 1, or on the date of the board of directors' summer meeting, whichever comes first.

Here is the complete roster for the 2012-13 WBCA Board of Directors:

Executive Committee
Charli Turner Thorne, Head Coach, Arizona State, President
Sue Semrau, Head Coach, Florida State, Vice President
Beth Burns, Head Coach, San Diego State, Secretary
Coquese Washington, Head Coach, Penn State, Treasurer
Connie Hurlbut, Senior Associate Commissioner, Western Athletic Conference, Committee on Basketball Issues Chair,
Geno Auriemma, Head Coach, Connecticut, Past President
Carol Owens, Associate Coach, Notre Dame, Black Coaches & Administrators

Board of Directors
Amanda Butler, Head Coach, Florida, Division I At-Large
Claudette Charney, Head Coach, Hillsdale College, Division II Legislative
Carmen Dolfo, Head Coach, Western Washington, Division II Group II
Rich Ensor, Commissioner, Metro Atlantic Conference, Conference Commissioners
Kelly Graves, Head Coach, Gonzaga, Division I West
Kellie Harper, Head Coach, North Carolina State, Division I East
Mary Klinger, Head Coach, Rutgers Preparatory School, High School
Kelly Komara, Former Assistant Coach, Valparaiso, Division I Midwest
Patricia Manning, Head Coach, Williams College, Division III At-Large
Joanne P. McCallie, Head Coach, Duke, Division I At-Large
Lisa Mispley Fortier, Assistant Coach, Gonzaga, Assistant Coaches
Matthew Mitchell, Head Coach, Kentucky, Division I Mideast
Kirsten Moore, Head Coach, Westmont College, NAIA
Deb Patterson, Head Coach, Kansas State, Division I At-Large
Laurel J. Ritchie, President, WNBA
Jennifer Rizzotti, Head Coach, Hartford, Division I Legislative
Vic Schaefer, Head Coach, Mississippi State, Male Coaches
Mary Beth Spirk, Head Coach, Moravian College, Division III At-Large
Dawn Staley, Head Coach, South Carolina, Division I At-Large
Christy Thomaskutty, Head Coach, Emory, Division III Legislative
Cleve Wright, Head Coach, Gannon University, Division II Group I
Toby Wynn, Head Coach, Seward Community College, Junior/Community College
NCAA representative, TBA

About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. The WBCA is pleased to join the women's sports community in commemorating the 40th anniversary of Title IX, which was passed by Congress on June 23, 1972, and provides females with equal opportunities in athletics in the U.S. For more information on the WBCA, please visit WBCA.org.

"When you think of women's basketball, you think of Pat Summitt. She is the first female coach whose name literally has become synonymous with her sport.

"Of course, we all know her record -- the thousand victories, the eight national championships, and so on -- but we'll never be able to adequately put into words the contributions Pat has made to women's basketball and, specifically, to the women's basketball coaching profession. She is a mentor, role model and inspiration to so many. All coaches of girls' and women's basketball have her to thank in large part for the success our game now enjoys.

"Pat is a founding member of the WBCA. She was present in the meeting held during the Olympic Festival in Syracuse, N.Y., in 1981, to discuss the formation of a women's basketball coaches association. She has been a member and tremendous supporter of the WBCA ever since. We will forever be indebted to her for what she has done through the years for this association."

Pat Summitt Named Head Coach Emeritus

About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. The WBCA is pleased to join the women's sports community in commemorating the 40th anniversary of Title IX, which was passed by Congress on June 23, 1972, and provides females with equal opportunities in athletics in the U.S. For more information on the WBCA, please visit wbca.org.

USA TODAY ESPN DIVISION I TOP 25 COACHES' POLL

April 4, 2012

The final overall Top 25 women's basketball coaches poll, with team's RECORDS THROUGH TUESDAY in parentheses, total points based on 25 points for first place through one point for 25th, ranking in the final regular-season poll (March 12) and first-place votes:

Dropped Out: No. 20 Rutgers, No. 22 Nebraska.

Others receiving votes: Nebraska (24-9) 70; Rutgers (22-10) 68; LSU (23-11) 42; California (25-10) 27; West Virginia (24-10) 16; Arkansas (24-9) 14; Oklahoma (21-13) 8; Middle Tennessee (26-7) 7; Kansas State (20-14) 5; Vanderbilt (23-10) 4; Florida (20-13) 3; Florida Gulf Coast (29-3) 2; Oklahoma State (22-12) 2; Marist (26-8) 1; Princeton (24-5) 1; Texas-El Paso (29-4) 1.

The USA TODAY/ESPN Board of Coaches is made up of 31 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. The board for the 2011-12 season: Courtney Banghart, Princeton; Frank Bennett, Lipscomb; Rae Blair, Texas-San Antonio; Matt Bollant, Wisconsin-Green Bay; Matt Corkery, American; June Daugherty, Washington State; Tonya Edwards, Alcorn State; Jose Fernandez, South Florida; Ronny Fisher, Presbyterian; Beckie Francis, Oakland (Mich.); Stephanie Glance, Illinois State; Bonnie Henrickson, Kansas; Tom Hodges, Morehead State; Rick Insell, Middle Tennessee; Jim Jabir, Dayton; Andy Landers, Georgia; Joe Mathews, Towson; Suzy Merchant, Michigan State; Lynn Milligan, Rider; Sherri Murrell, Portland State; Kathy Olivier, UNLV; Kelly Packard, Ball State; Raegan Pebley, Utah State; Mike Petersen, Wake Forest; Jennifer Rizzotti, Hartford; Susan Robinson-Fruchtl, St. Francis (Pa.); David Six, Hampton; Paul Thomas, Saint Mary's; Joi Williams, Central Florida; Nancy Wilson, College of Charleston; Jody Wynn, Long Beach State.

DENVER (April 2, 2012) - Baylor University head coach Kim Mulkey is the 2012 RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA NCAA Division I National Coach of the Year, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced tonight during the second annual WBCA Awards Show.

The WBCA also announced the RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National Coaches of the Year in other collegiate divisions. Sue Ramsey of Ashland University was named NCAA Division II national coach of the year, Mia Smith of Illinois Wesleyan University was named NCAA Division III national coach of the year, Steve Brooks of Indiana Wesleyan University was named NAIA national coach of the year, and B.J. Smith of Highland Community College was named junior/community college national coach of the year.

"The WBCA congratulates Kim Mulkey on being named the 2012 RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA NCAA Division I National Coach of the Year," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "She was selected by her peers and is deserving of this honor after a terrific season. On behalf of the WBCA and its members, I want to say thank you for being a great leader for our student-athletes, Kim!"

"Russell Athletic believes in the ‘Power of Team' and no team can be successful without a powerful leader," said RUSSELL ATHLETIC Executive Vice President Gary Barfield. "Russell Athletic is pleased to honor the coaches named Coach of the Year and applaud their successes."

Mulkey, in her 12th year as head coach of the Baylor Lady Bears, has guided her team to a perfect 39-0 record, Big 12 championship and ninth straight NCAA tournament berth. The Big 12 Coach of the Year's squad earned a No. 1-overall seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. Mulkey will look to lead her team to an NCAA Championship and perfect 40-0 season Tuesday (April 4.) Should the Lady Bears find success in the championship game, Mulkey's team will become the first in NCAA Division I women's basketball history to reach a 40-0 record.

Ramsey's Ashland Eagles won the GLIAC championship, becoming the first basketball team in school history to reach the achievement. The 2012 WBCA Carol Eckman Award winner and GLIAC Coach of the year recipient led her team to a perfect regular-season record and the NCAA Division II National Championship Game. The 17-year head coach and her team recorded a 33-game winning streak - the longest of any athletic program in Ashland history.

Smith finished her 14th year as head coach of the Illinois Wesleyan Titans in prestigious fashion, earning four coach of the year honors - RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA NCAA DIII, Schelde North America/Women's DIII News, D3hoops.com Central Region and College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). A deserving recipient of recognition, Smith led her team to a national championship title - the first in the program's history - and a 28-5 overall record.

Brooks coached Indiana Wesleyan to a second straight Mid-Central College Conference championship and No.4 ranking in NAIA Division II. The Wildcats advanced to the quarterfinals of the national tournament and finished with a 33-3 overall record.

Smith finished his first season as head coach at Highland Community College with a 28-4 record and NJCAA Division II District B finals appearance. The Scotties not only enjoyed their most successful season in history - cracking the top 10 national rankings - but also their first winning season since 1984 and a second-place finish in the Jayhawk East Conference.

RUSSELL ATHLETIC and the WBCA present the national coach of the year award annually in each of the five WBCA membership divisions (NCAA Divisions I, II and III; NAIA; junior/community college and high school). This marks the 30th year the awards have been given in the junior/community college and NCAA divisions, while the WBCA has honored an NAIA coach of the year for 28 years.

About RUSSELL ATHLETIC:
For more than 100 years, RUSSELL ATHLETIC, a division of Russell Brands, LLC, has supplied America's athletes and teams with the latest innovations to help them perform at their best and is a leading supplier of team uniforms at the high school, college and professional levels. RUSSELL ATHLETIC'S activewear and collegiate licensed products are broadly distributed and marketed through department stores, sports specialty stores, retail chains and college bookstores. For more information, please visit www.RussellAthletic.com. RUSSELL ATHLETIC® is a trademark of Russell Brands, LLC.

About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. The WBCA is pleased to join the women's sports community in commemorating the 40th anniversary of Title IX, which was passed by Congress on June 23, 1972, and provides females with equal opportunities in athletics in the U.S. For more information on the WBCA, please visit wbca.org.

DENVER (April 2, 2012) - Brittney Griner of Baylor University is the winner of the 2012 State Farm® Wade Trophy, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced tonight during the second annual WBCA Awards Show. The prestigious award, regarded as "The Heisman of Women's Basketball," is presented annually to the NCAA Division I Player of the Year by the WBCA and the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS).

The WBCA also announced the State Farm/WBCA Players of the Year in other collegiate divisions. Kari Daugherty of Ashland University was named NCAA Division II player of the year, Caroline Stedman of Amherst College was named NCAA Division III player of the year, Tugce Canitez of Westmont College was named NAIA player of the year, and Sha'Kayla Caples of Trinity Valley Community College was named the junior/community college player of the year.

"It has truly been a pleasure watching Brittney compete on the basketball court this season," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "Brittney is the best of the best and earned this honor by showcasing the highest level of play in the game during the 2011-12 season. I am honored to present the State Fame Wade Trophy to her on behalf of the WBCA and the NAGWS. Congratulations Brittney."

Griner, a 6-foot-8 post, has led Baylor to its second NCAA® Women's Final Four® in three seasons and a perfect 39-0 mark. She is averaging 23.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 60.7 percent from the floor and 80.3 percent from the free throw line. Griner has twice been named an All-American by the WBCA, AP, USBWA and Wooden Award and is a two-time WBCA Defensive Player of the Year. She was named most outstanding player of the Des Moines Regional and the Big 12 Championship, Big 12 Player of the Year, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and is a finalist for every major postseason award.

"State Farm is proud of the achievement of these amazing women," said Pam El, marketing vice president for State Farm. "We are happy to support this outstanding program that celebrates their hard work and dedication."

The State Farm Wade Trophy, now in its 35th year, is named after the late, legendary three-time national champion Delta State University coach, Lily Margaret Wade. The award debuted in 1978 as the first-ever women's national player of the year award in college basketball.

The first recipient of the Wade Trophy was Carol Blazejowski of Montclair State in 1978. Other Wade Trophy/NCAA Division I Player of the Year recipients include many standouts such as Teresa Weatherspoon (1988), DeLisha Milton-Jones (1997), Candace Parker (2007), Ticha Penicheiro (1998), Sue Bird (2002) and Diana Taurasi (2003).

The WBCA and the NAGWS first partnered in June 2000 and for the past ten years have worked together to present The State Farm Wade Trophy player of the year award. A committee composed of coaches, administrators and media from across the United States selects the winner.

State Farm/WBCA collegiate players of the year:

Kari Daugherty, Ashland University, NCAA Division II
Daugherty, a 6-foot-1 forward/guard from Fresno, Ohio, ranked atop the nation's Division II leader board in rebounds per game (14.1) and double-doubles (27 in 35 contests) and among the nation's top 10 in points per game (No. 7 with 21.3). After nearly breaking a national record with a 22-rebound performance in the NCAA Division II quarterfinals, Daugherty led her Ashland Eagles to a runner-up finish in the Division II National Championship game March 23.

Caroline Stedman, Amherst College, NCAA Division III
Stedman, a 5-foot-10 senior guard from Walpole, Mass., was the leading scorer (14.1 points) for No. 4 Amherst (31-2), which reached the NCAA Division III Women's Final Four for the fourth consecutive year. Stedman's class is only the second group of seniors in NCAA Division III history to earn a berth in the Women's Final Four in all four years of their collegiate careers.

Tugce Canitez, Westmont College, NAIA
Canitez, a 6-foot-2 junior forward from Izmir, Turkey, tallied 19.1 points and pulled down 10.5 rebounds per game while leading the Westmont Warriors to a 31-4 record, Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament title and a No. 1 seed in the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament.

Sha'Kayla Caples, Trinity Valley Community College, Junior/Community College
Caples, a 5-foot-11 sophomore forward for undefeated Trinity Valley (36-0). The NJCAA Division I National Champions looked to Caples throughout 2011-12 as she poured in team-leading numbers for much of the season.

The State Farm/WBCA Players of the Year are selected by committees composed of WBCA-member coaches within the respective membership divisions.

About State Farm®
State Farm and its affiliates are the largest provider of car insurance in the U.S. and is a leading insurer in Canada. In addition to providing auto insurance quotes, their 17,800 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts - more than 79 million auto, home, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 37 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com or in Canada http://www.statefarm.ca.

About the NAGWS:
The National Association for Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS) was established to develop and deliver equitable and quality sport opportunities for ALL girls and women through relevant research, advocacy, leadership development, educational strategies, and programming in a manner that promotes social justice and change.

About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. The WBCA is pleased to join the women's sports community in commemorating the 40th anniversary of Title IX, which was passed by Congress on June 23, 1972, and provides females with equal opportunities in athletics in the U.S. For more information on the WBCA, please visit wbca.org.

DENVER (April 2, 2012) - High Point University's Jennifer Hoover is the 2012 recipient of the Spalding Maggie Dixon Division I Rookie Coach of the Year Award, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced tonight at the second annual WBCA Awards Show. This distinguished award honors a WBCA Division I head coach who has led their team to a successful season during their first year at the helm.

"One of the WBCA's core values is to assist in the growth and development of young coaches," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "Jennifer Hoover has led her program to success during her rookie season, and we are proud to present Jennifer with the Maggie Dixon Rookie Coach of the Year award."

"On behalf of the Spalding brand, I'd like to congratulate Coach Hoover on her outstanding accomplishments this season," said Gary Barfield, vice president, Russell Brands, LLC, parent company of Spalding®. "We continue to be inspired by what this award stands for and the caliber of coaches it honors."

Hoover became High Point University's head coach in April 2011 and guided the program to a 20-13 overall record and 13-5 mark in Big South competition. The 2011-12 squad is only the second in the program's history in Division I to surpass the 20-win mark.

During her first season at the helm, Hoover coached the Panthers to the Big South title game - their first appearance in the championship game since 2006. Following the team's run in the conference tournament, Hoover and her team landed a spot in the Women's National Invitation Tournament, marking the first time HPU has competed in a postseason tournament since 2007.

Prior to her arrival in High Point, Hoover gained coaching experience as an assistant coach at California. One of her most notable accomplishments while on the staff at Cal was her role in the signing of the nation's No. 1 recruiting class. Hoover also served on staffs at Memphis and Virginia, as well as several other institutions.

Hoover competed at Wake Forest University where she was a three-time All-ACC selection and school-record-setting center. After her collegiate campaign, Hoover played for the Solna IF Basketball Team in Sweden and on the 1993 Athletes in Action team that played on the USA Fall Exhibition Tour and Australian Spring Tour.

The Maggie Dixon Rookie Coach of the Year Award is named in honor of the late Maggie Dixon, former Army head coach, whose success during her inaugural year at the Army helm was remarkable. The Black Knights won the Patriot League title in 2006 and Dixon was named the Patriot League Coach of the Year after leading Army to the NCAA Tournament for the first time at the NCAA Division I level. Coach Dixon passed away on April 6, 2006, just a few weeks following their appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

About Spalding:
A Division of Russell Brands, LLC, Spalding is the largest basketball equipment supplier in the world, and America's first baseball company. Spalding is the official basketball of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the official backboard of the NBA and NCAA, the official baseball of the Little League World Series, the official volleyball of the King of the Beach Volleyball Tour and the official football of Pop Warner. In addition to being the leading producer and marketer of basketballs, footballs, volleyballs and soccer balls, Spalding produces softballs under the Dudley brand. The SPALDING® and DUDLEY® trademarks are owned by Russell Brands, LLC. For more information, visit www.spalding.com.

About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. The WBCA is pleased to join the women's sports community in commemorating the 40th anniversary of Title IX, which was passed by Congress on June 23, 1972, and provides females with equal opportunities in athletics in the U.S. For more information on the WBCA, please visit wbca.org.

DENVER (April 2, 2012) - The Oklahoma State women's basketball program has been honored by RUSSELL ATHLETIC and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) as the recipient of the inaugural RUSSELL ATHLETIC "Together We R" Team Award. OSU was presented with the award at the second annual WBCA Awards Show.

In its first year, the "Together We R" Team Award honors programs that have strived to succeed in the face of adversity, overcoming extraordinary circumstances such as an unforeseen team crisis, barrier or unfortunate situation that caused extra stress. The team must exemplify strong commitment to core values of togetherness, courage, unparalleled work ethic and heart, and must personify the "Together We R" belief that teams are stronger than individuals.

From the initial submissions, a committee composed of WBCA past presidents narrowed it to three finalists - Indiana Wesleyan, Middle Tennessee State and Oklahoma State. Each institution submitted a video telling their story which was posted on the WBCA's YouTube channel. Fans were asked to watch the videos and show their support by voting for who they believed should be the winner of the award. Oklahoma State garnered the most fan votes with more than 6,000 views and 400 "likes" on their video, and received one additional vote when the selection committee met to determine the winner.

For the second time in just a single decade, Oklahoma State faced the unthinkable in mid-November when then head coach Kurt Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna, along with two others, were killed in a plane crash. A mentor in the Stillwater community and the Cowgirls' leader, Budke was talking about making an impact during the 2011-12 season just days before the tragedy. Assistant coach Jim Littell, who assumed the heading coaching duties, stood strong for the team, taking the reins and leading the Cowgirls to remarkable upset wins over Oklahoma and 2011 national champion Texas A&M.

Below is an excerpt from the submission made on the team's behalf:

"The Oklahoma State University women's basketball team lost their leader and a father figure in head coach Kurt Budke and a mother figure and friend in assistant coach Miranda Serna. These two people were the main reasons why many of them chose to attend Oklahoma State. The way they play the game, the passion and effort in which they step out on the court with is not only admirable, but also a sign of strength."

Despite the horrific start to the season, the Cowgirls persevered in 2012, landing a spot in the Women's National Invitation Tournament with a 16-12 record, marking the sixth straight year the program has competed in postseason play - a school record. Oklahoma State (22-12) won the WNIT for the first time in program history after defeating James Madison 75-68 in Stillwater, Okla. The team vowed to honor their lost leaders and held that promise true by allowing Budke's wife, Shelley, to cut the final piece of net from the hoop.

"It's unfortunate that everyone associated with the Oklahoma State University program experienced such a tragedy. However, the determination and perseverance of the Oklahoma State Cowgirls is a perfect demonstration of what one can overcome when working together as a team," said RUSSELL ATHLETIC Executive Vice President Gary Barfield. "Everyone associated with the Cowgirls program -- coaches, players, administration, family, friends, alumni and fans -- came together to ensure that this team had the support it needed to continue. It's a pleasure to recognize Oklahoma State University with the ‘Together We R' Award."

"The Cowgirl nation and Oklahoma State family have been through so much and so many emotions with this unfortunate tragedy," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "I think it is special that Jim and OSU were selected by his peers as an example of what coaching is all about - teamwork no matter what, sticking together as a team and family, even through the worst of circumstances."

About RUSSELL:
For more than 100 years, RUSSELL ATHLETIC, a division of Russell Brands, LLC, has supplied America's athletes and teams with the latest innovations to help them perform at their best and is a leading supplier of team uniforms at the high school, college and professional levels. RUSSELL ATHLETIC'S activewear and collegiate licensed products are broadly distributed and marketed through department stores, sports specialty stores, retail chains and college bookstores. For more information, please visit www.RussellAthletic.com. RUSSELL ATHLETIC® is a trademark of Russell Brands, LLC.

About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. The WBCA is pleased to join the women's sports community in commemorating the 40th anniversary of Title IX, which was passed by Congress on June 23, 1972, and provides females with equal opportunities in athletics in the U.S. For more information on the WBCA, please visit wbca.org.

DENVER (April 2, 2012) - Brittney Griner of Baylor is the 2012 WBCA National Defensive Player of the Year, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced at the second annual WBCA Awards Show Monday night. The event is part of the WBCA National Convention, held in conjunction with the Women's Final Four.

The WBCA Defensive Player of the Year award honors the best defensive collegiate Division I women's basketball player. All Division I Conference Defensive Player's of the Year are eligible to be nominated for the award and the selection committee makes the final decision on the winner. If a conference does not select a defensive player of the year, the conference representative can select one player to be considered.

"The age-old adage, ‘defense wins games', still rings true and I think Brittney has taken that to heart as this year's Defensive Player of the Year," said WBCA Beth Bass. "I am happy to honor Brittney with this award for her defensive efforts this season."

Griner has led the Baylor Lady Bears' defense throughout the 2011-12 season, averaging a team-leading 9.4 rebounds per game. Most impressively, the 6-foot-8 junior has denied 201 shots - 594 in her career - and has scored over 900 points this season. The towering center and her teammates are heading to the NCAA Women's National Championship game for the second time in program history, and will face Notre Dame in pursuit of the coveted 40-0 season they set their sights on at the start of the season.

The Houston, Texas native was named a 2012 WBCA Coaches' All-American for the second time in her career, and this is the second year in a row Griner has taken home the WBCA's Defensive Player of the Year Award. Additionally, Griner was honored with most outstanding player accolades from the Des Moines Regional and the Big 12 Championship. Griner was the 2012 Big 12 Player and Defensive Player of the Year.

About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. The WBCA is pleased to join the women's sports community in commemorating the 40th anniversary of Title IX, which was passed by Congress on June 23, 1972, and provides females with equal opportunities in athletics in the U.S. For more information on the WBCA, please visit wbca.org.

DENVER (March 31, 2012) - Top-ranked Baylor and No. 2 Stanford both placed two players on the 2012 WBCA Division I Coaches' All-America Team, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced today in a ceremony at the Pepsi Center during the 2012 NCAA® Women's Final Four® Super Saturday festivities.

The 10-member team was decided from a group of 52 finalists by the selection committee at an in-person meeting held during the 2012 WBCA National Convention.

The members of the 2012 NCAA Division I State Farm Coaches' All-America Basketball Team are as follows:

"Congratulations to the 10 student-athletes chosen for the 2012 Division I Coaches' All-America Team," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "These student-athletes have worked hard this season, ensuring success for their entire team, and they are deserving of this recognition."

This is the 38th year of the WBCA Coaches' All-America program, which began in 1975. Once again all 10 members of the team were present to be honored in person during the ceremony. Remarkably, in the 38-year history of the program, none of the 380 Coaches' All-Americans honored to date have failed to appear for the announcement.

This year also marks the first time in history that sisters (Chiney and Nnemkadi Ogwumike of Stanford) have been named to the WBCA Division I Coaches' All-America Team.

Elena Delle Donne led No. 7 Delaware to a historic season that included its first-ever national ranking and an undefeated conference run that landed the Blue Hens their first CAA Crown. This season's CAA Player of the Year and Capital One Academic All-American of the Year, Delle Donne became the fastest player in CAA history to reach the 2,000-point mark, doing so in just 75 games. The nation's leading scorer averaging 28.1 points, Delle Donne finished out the season with 925 points, becoming only the 15th player in NCAA DI history to reach the 900 points per season milestone. Her 925 points this season ranks seventh in the all-time NCAA DI record book.

Skylar Diggins, the reigning BIG EAST Conference Player of the Year and a two-time unanimous first-team all-BIG EAST selection, is the only BIG EAST player to rank among the top five in the conference in three of the five major statistical categories this season. She leads the conference in both assists (5.8 apg. - 15th in nation) and steals (2.6 spg. - 55th in nation), and she is fourth in scoring (16.7 ppg. - 73rd in nation), while also posting a conference-best 2.17 assist-to-turnover ratio (10th in nation). Diggins recorded her first career triple-double (22 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds) against Maryland in the Raleigh (N.C.) Regional Final; just the 13th in NCAA Championship history.

Brittney Griner has led Baylor to its second NCAA® Women's Final Four® in three seasons and a perfect 38-0 mark. She is averaging 23.4 points, 9.4 rebounds and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 61.1 percent from the floor and 80.4 percent from the free throw line. Griner has twice been named an All-American by the WBCA, AP, USBWA and Wooden Award and is a two-time WBCA Defensive Player of the Year. She was named most outstanding player of the Des Moines Regional and the Big 12 Championship, Big 12 Player of the Year, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and is a finalist for every major postseason award.

Bria Hartley was honored as a 2011-12 All-BIG EAST First Team selection and named to the 2011-12 Preseason Wade and Naismith Trophy Watch Lists. A 2011 and 2010 All-BIG EAST Tournament Team pick, she is third for Connecticut at 13.6 points per game and fourth in the league with a 1.5 assists-to-turnover ratio. Hartley earned mention as the 2010-11 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year and was selected to the 2011 NCAA Tournament All-Philadelphia Regional Team. She played for the USA Basketball U18 Team in 2010 and for the U19 Team in 2011.

In her final campaign at Tennessee, grad student Glory Johnson turned in a career high stat line including 14.2 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 1.2 bpg and 1.4 spg while starting all 36 games and logging 29.9 minutes per contest. Her 2012 honors include NCAA Des Moines Regional All-Tournament, Capital One Academic All-America First Team, the Southeastern Conference Tournament MVP and All-Tournament team, SEC Defensive Player of the Year and Coaches and AP All-SEC. Johnson became just the fourth Lady Vol ever in the thousand-thousand point and rebound club and finished second to four-time WBCA All-American Chamique Holdsclaw in career rebounds with 1,218.

Now a two-time WBCA Coaches' All-American, Shenise Johnson has been named to five All-America teams this season, including the Associated Press and United States Basketball Writers Association squads. She was named First Team All-ACC and to the All-ACC Defensive Team for the third consecutive season. Johnson led the Hurricanes in scoring with 17 points per game and finished her career with 2,262 points, third in school history. She is just the second woman in Division I history to score 2,000 points, grab 1,000 rebounds, dish out 500 assists and have 400 steals in a career, joining only Nancy Lieberman.

The younger half of Stanford's Ogwumike combination, Chiney Ogwumike has demonstrated her dominance of the paint in 2011-12, averaging 15.3 points and 10.3 rebounds a game with a team-leading 58.4 field-goal percentage. Stanford's leading rebounder, she has pulled down 370 boards this year, just six away from older sister Nnemkadi's single-season record of 376 set in 2009-10. Chiney also makes a name for herself on the other end of the court, playing a hard-nosed brand of defense that has led her to be named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the WBCA Defensive Player of the Year award.

Nnemkadi Ogwumike has put together one of the most dominant seasons in Cardinal history in 2011-12. Heading into the 2012 Women's Final Four, her fourth in a row and the fifth straight for the Cardinal, Ogwumike is averaging 22.5 points and 10.3 rebounds a game while shooting 55.4 percent from the field. The 2012 Pac-12 Player of the Year, as well as Most Outstanding Player of the Pac-12 Tournament and Fresno Regional is also a consensus first-team All-American in addition to being a consensus national player of the year finalist.

Odyssey Sims excels on both ends of the floor for Baylor and has helped guide the Lady Bears to the Women's Final Four and an undefeated season. She averages 14.8 points per game, including 20.5 vs. ranked opponents, 4.4 assists, 3.0 steals and 2.8 rebounds per contest and is a bulldog on defense. She is a two-time All-Big 12 first-team selection and was named to the Des Moines Region and Big 12 Championship All-Tournament teams. In addition, she also earned All-American honors from the Associated Press and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.

Alyssa Thomas is the ACC's Player of the Year and is just the second underclassman ever to earn the league's top honor. She's quickly grown into a game-changer and one of the nation's top stat sheet stuffers that's proven she can get it done night in and night out. Thomas led the ACC in scoring with 17.2 points per game and in the top five in rebounding with 8.0 per contest. Thomas was among the best in the league in, assists, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and defensive rebounds.

About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. The WBCA is pleased to join the women's sports community in commemorating the 40th anniversary of Title IX, which was passed by Congress on June 23, 1972, and provides females with equal opportunities in athletics in the U.S. For more information on the WBCA, please visit wbca.org.

DENVER (March 31, 2012) - The White Team prevailed in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) High School All-America Game presented by NIKE, earning the win with a 74-62 decision. The game - played on the NCAA® Women's Final Four® court for the third consecutive year - featured the nation's top 20 high school seniors showcased in front of family, fans and current collegiate coaches in Denver.

RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National High School Coach of the Year Marcia Pinder of Dillard High School (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) navigated from the sideline for the White Team. From the tip, her squad controlled the game, taking a 10-4 lead just five minutes after the jump. The White Team continued its dominance throughout the first half, leading 41-25 at the break.

Niles West High School (Lincolnwood, Ill.) standout Jewell Loyd led the White Team's efforts at half with 16 points and five boards. The future Notre Dame Fighting Irish was named the team's Most Valuable Player after an 18-point, three-assist final performance.

Nicole Kornet, a native of Lantana, Texas (Liberty Christian School), led the Navy Team in scoring at the break with six points and three steals. Named the Navy Team MVP, the Oklahoma-bound recruit finished the game with 12 points, three steals and an assist.

Piloting the Navy Team was Suzanne Oelschlegel of MacArthur High School (Irving, Texas.) Her team finished the contest with 62 points on 23 made baskets and five three-pointers. Oelschlegel's squad boasted a 61.1 free-throw percentage and shot 31.5 percent from the field. The team saw three players reach double-digit scoring - Alexis Jones (11), Nirra Fields (14) and Kornet (12.) Jones also added four assists.

The White Team shot 45 percent from the field, netting 27 of 60 attempts, and hit 12 of 16 free throws as well as eight shots from beyond the three-point arc. Three players scored in double digits - Jonquel Jones (14), State Farm®/WBCA High School Player of the Year Breanna Stewart (10) and Loyd (18) - and each member of the team got on the board with two or more points.

More highlights from the game include Stewart's four blocked shots, Malina Howard's three blocked shots and Moriah Jefferson's four assists. The teams combined for 25 assists.

This year marked the 21st year the WBCA High School All-America Game has been played. The inaugural WBCA High School All-America Game was played April 17, 1992, at Oman Arena in Jackson, Tenn.

About Nike:
NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly owned Nike subsidiaries include Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand; and Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, visit www.nikebiz.com.

About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. For more information on the WBCA, please visit wbca.org.

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