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News Celebrity continued from page 2 do on the court. They are committed to making a positive impact on the communi- ties in which they live and work, and they do it in very different ways: Tamika Catch- ings and Swin Cash mentor young girls on self-esteem through their foundations; Tina Charles helped build a school in Africa with her personal donation; Ruth Riley travels the world to bring attention to global dis- eases. The list goes on. I am very proud of all our players as they truly are inspiring role models for young girls – and young boys. KW: How would you like the world to perceive the WNBA players participating in the Olympic Games this year? LJR: On a professional level, these ath- letes are quite simply 12 of the best female basketball players in the world. On a per- sonal level, each one has an interesting and unique story to tell about her journey to the Olympics. Over the next two weeks – and beyond — I would like the world to get to know them as athletes, citizens of the world and fabulous women. KW: What other changes do you envision implementing during your tenure? order to build an even more robust group of sponsors and partners. KW: What do you hope will be your WNBA legacy? LJR: I don’t spend much time thinking about my legacy; my focus is on the legacy Girls who participate in sports have a higher self- esteem and are more likely to graduate from college LJR: We will continue to focus on atten- dance and income, as those are our key measures of bringing more and more people to the game and growing our fan base. We are actively doing outreach to organizations that appreciate and value the WNBA in of the league and of the athletes who give their all on and off the court. We are, and will continue to be, the destination for the best women’s basketball players in the world. Every day we strive to provide our fans with an exciting and entertaining expe- rience. KW: Do you think there is a need to expand the participation of African-Ameri- can females in the field of sports media? LJR: I would love to see more African- American females engaged in all aspects of sports. All of the research tells us that par- ticipation in sports has a very positive impact in both the short and long term. Girls who participate in sports have a higher self- esteem and are more likely to graduate from college, and 80 percent of female execu- tives played team sports growing up. KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps? LJR: Dream big and stay true to yourself as you pursue your dreams. KW: Thanks again for the interview, and best of luck with the WNBA and the Olympics. LJR: Thanks. th es ka ob m er nn Page 8 The Seattle Skanner August 1, 2012 . co •LOCAL NEWS •U.S. NEWS •JOBS, BIDS •ENTERTAINMENT •BULLETIN BOARD •RSS FEEDS ile Scan our QR code with your app. m MOBILE
