CHICAGO - Fresh from the Olympics break, the Chicago Sky basketball team will honor Lt. Governor Sheila Simon and other female athletes and coaches Friday during the 40th anniversary celebration of Title IX.
The WNBA's Sky features two players, Sylvia Fowles and Swin Cash, who helped Team USA earn gold in London. The Sky's honorary Title IX team includes Julie Foudy, former USA Women's Soccer Team captain and a two-time Olympic gold medalist.
"This year's Olympics are a testament to the possibilities Title IX has made available to women," Simon said. "This summer's US Olympic team featured more women than men, and the majority of US gold medalists in London were women."
Title IX, enacted on June 23, 1972, banned sex discrimination in federally funded schools and led to expanded opportunities for female athletes. This summer Simon declared June 23 "Title IX Day" in Illinois and joined the Sky for a celebration in recognition of the 40th anniversary of Title IX.
Other members of the honorary Title IX team are: Margaret Stender, chairwoman, former president and CEO of the Chicago Sky; Sarah Spain, ESPN/ESPNW contributor and reporter; Amy Skeen, president and CEO of Girls in the Game; Lisa Cole, founder of the Chicago Force; Peg Kopec, volleyball coach at St. Francis High School in Wheaton; Ramelia Williams, former Chicago director of Go Girl Go!; and Maria Wynne, CEO for Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana; and Lt. Governor Simon, who has held the indoor and outdoor high jump records at Wittenberg University since the 1980s.
Click here to view a video of Simon discussing her personal experience with Title IX.
DATE: Friday, August 17
TIME: 6 p.m. reception, 7:30 p.m. tip-off
PLACE: Allstate Arena, 6920 North Mannheim Road, Rosemont
ADDITIONAL: For credentialing information, please contact Will Steinberg with the Chicago Sky: wsteinberg@chicagosky.net
