South Atlantic Conference Women's Basketball Teams to Participate in Play4Kay Games

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – South Atlantic Conference women's basketball teams will once again partner with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and the Play4Kay initiative to participate in the 2023 Play4Kay weeks February 8-18.

The "pink phenomenon" in women's basketball began during the 2004-2005 basketball season when Coach Yow's cancer recurred after being in remission for 17 years. Play4Kay is the grassroots fundraising initiative of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. It was originally called Think Pink, later Pink Zone, and most recently and finally, Play4Kay. Women's basketball teams wore pink in honor of Coach Yow and those battling cancer. In 2007, this movement resulted in the establishment of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and its Play4Kay initiative.

In 2021-22, South Atlantic Conference women's basketball member institutions raised more than $16,000 for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.  For the fourth time in nine years, Anderson raised the highest amount among the SAC schools last year, with a total of $7,500.00, which ties the largest amount raised in the 13 years of the SAC Play4Kay events, which was raised by Anderson in 2020.

The SAC joined the initiative in raising money for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund during the 2008-2009 season and to date has raised more than $150,000.

Coach Kay Yow was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987. She passed away in 2009, after a 22-year, on-again, off-again battle with the disease. Coach Yow fought that battle in the public arena. Her hope was to inspire others to make a difference in a fight that impacts each and every one of us.

Her love of basketball started at age 7, and her dedication to the game took her all the way to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. As head coach of the North Carolina State University women's basketball team and past president and founding member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), her voice became a galvanizing force within the sport of women's basketball.

In her 38 years as a college head coach, Coach Yow was one of only six Division I women's basketball head coaches to achieve 700 career victories. She guided her squads to 20 of 27 NCAA Tournaments, 11 trips to the Sweet 16, and a trip to the Elite Eight and the Final Four in 1998. Yow was part of an elite group of nine Olympic coaches chosen to lead USA Basketball in the pursuit of Olympic gold. Additionally, Yow became only the third women's basketball coach in NCAA Division I history to coach 1,000 games with one program.

For more information about the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and Play4Kay, click here. 

Schedule of Events

About the Kay Yow Cancer Fund

The Kay Yow Cancer Fund was officially founded on December 3, 2007, from the vision of the organization's namesake, Kay Yow, former NC State University head women's basketball coach. Coach Yow was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 before succumbing to the disease on January 24, 2009. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to being a part of finding an answer in the fight against ALL cancers affecting women through raising money for scientific research, providing access to quality cancer healthcare for underserved women, and unifying people for a common cause. For more information on the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, or to donate, please visit KayYow.com.

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