WNBA Stars Work To Empower Women and Girls Through Sports in Thailand

____ Building on the State Department's global efforts to empower women and girls, WNBA stars Tamika Catchings and Ebony Hoffman are in Thailand this week to engage the next generation of women and girls.

Tamika Catchings says, “When you get on the court it does not really matter what language you speak. I mean it's a universal language.”

Through this public-private partnership with the National Basketball Association and the Women's National Basketball Association, Catchings and Hoffman will take the lessons of Title IX -- opportunity and equality -- to Bangkok where they will engage more than 100 female athletes aged 12-15 years old.

“The girls had a huge smile on their face. They were very enthusiastic. They listened, they executed, they played hard and gave their all,” says Ebony Hoffman.

Based on the evidence that girls who play sports are more likely to attend school, Catchings and Hoffman are going beyond the basketball court to spark dialogue and greater understanding and inspire them to pursue their potential -- on the court, in the classroom, and in society.

“I think with the Title IX celebrating its 40th year, we opened the doors in America and really we are trying to do the same across the globe,” says Tamika Catchings.


read: http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/entry/wnba_stars_women_sports_thailand

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