Kara Lawson Named Duke University Women’s Basketball Head Coach

Former WNBA and Olympic Champion Kara Lawson has been named Duke University's fifth head women's basketball coach, announced on Saturday by Vice President and Director of Athletics Kevin White.

"I am delighted to welcome Kara Lawson to Duke as our next women's basketball coach," said Duke President Vincent E. Price. "Kara has proven herself as a skilled coach and a committed mentor, whose passion for education is demonstrated by her service on her alma mater's board of trustees. I am thrilled that she will be bringing these talents to Duke, and I know that she will support the continued success of our women's basketball student-athletes both on the court and off."

Lawson, a 2003 Tennessee graduate, brings her decorated basketball career, both on and off the court, to the Blue Devils after spending last season as an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics. She had helped Boston to a 43-21 record and into third place in the Eastern Conference prior to the stoppage of the 2019-20 NBA season due to COVID-19. Lawson was the Celtics first female coach in the franchise's 73-year history.

A highly-seasoned champion at multiple levels within the basketball landscape, Kara Lawson is the ideal fit for Duke University," commented White. "Throughout the process, it became abundantly clear that her authenticity, passion, contemporary vision and unwavering commitment to the student-athlete experience align seamlessly with the values of the institution. With her high degree of emotional intelligence, Kara's astute ability to connect with future, current and former student-athletes, as well as the passionate and dedicated supporters of Duke women's basketball, will have an immediate and profound impact on the entire program."

"Well, it is a dream come true for me," said Lawson. "I have wanted to be a coach since I was a kid. To have an opportunity to lead a group of young women at a prestigious university like Duke – I have run out of words; it is unbelievable and very exciting. I am thankful for the path that led me here and thankful for the belief of President Price, Kevin White, Nina King, Coach Krzyzewski, Coach Cutcliffe and everyone surrounding the program. Everybody I spoke with and had a chance to interact with, I immediately felt a great connection. It wasn't a decision based on emotion, but there was a lot of emotion involved in it because of how excited I am and how ready I am to get started and to work with the players."

Following an exceptional playing career, Lawson spent two years as the primary television analyst for the Washington Wizards while also broadcasting games for ESPN Radio. In addition to her role covering the Wizards for NBC Sports Washington, Lawson served as a game and studio analyst for men's and women's college basketball and the NBA for ESPN. On January 12, 2007, she became the first female analyst for a nationally-televised NBA game.

Recently, Lawson has assisted efforts for USA Basketball's 3x3 teams in preparation for the Tokyo Olympic Games. She has helped USA Basketball 3x3 teams to six gold medals since 2017. With Lawson on the sideline, the USA U18 women have won three straight titles (2017 & 2019 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cups and 2018 Youth Olympic Games) while the U18 men captured gold at the 2019 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup. Additionally, Lawson helped guide the USA 3x3 men's and women's teams to first place finishes at the 2019 Pan American Games.

In 13 WNBA seasons, Lawson averaged 9.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 377 career games with the Sacramento Monarchs, Connecticut Sun and Washington Mystics from 2003 to 2015. In addition to her WNBA career, which included a championship with the Monarchs in 2005 and an All-Star appearance in 2007, Lawson was a member of the Team USA roster that captured the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

A four-time All-SEC selection and two-time All-America choice at Tennessee, Lawson played for the late Pat Summit and led the Lady Vols to three NCAA Final Four appearances during her collegiate career. Lawson appeared in 143 games, making 137 starts, and helped Tennessee to a 126-17 overall and 54-2 mark in the SEC over her four seasons. Lawson guided the Lady Vols to four straight SEC regular season and tournament crowns, as well as 2000, 2002 and 2003 NCAA Final Four appearances.

Lawson currently ranks third all-time at Tennessee in three-point field goals made (256), second in three-point field goal percentage (.415) and also ranks third in career free throw percentage (.847). Lawson averaged 13.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while closing her career ranking sixth in career points with 1,950. Lawson also was stellar in the classroom and was a 2003 CoSIDA/Verizon First Team Academic All-America selection.

In 2003, Lawson was one of seven recipients of the prestigious Torchbearer Award given by the University of Tennessee.<:p>

Along with her participation with the 2008 USA Basketball gold medal winning squad, Lawson has extensive international experience. She played with the 2007-08 USA Basketball Women's National Team and was a member of the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship Team. Lawson was invited to play with the 2006 USA Basketball Women's National Team during their spring training. She played five games with the 2003 WNBA Select Team that participated in the FIBA Women's World Cup, was the captain of the gold-medal winning U.S. World University Games Team in 2001 and was a member of bronze-medal winning U.S. Women's World Youth Games Team in 1998.

As a senior at West Springfield High School, she was selected the 1999 Naismith High School Player of the Year while earning All-America accolades from USA Today, Parade and the WBCA. Additionally, she was the 1998 and 1999 Gatorade Player of the Year in Virginia and led her squad to two state championships.

Lawson, who is married to Damien Barling, graduated from Tennessee in 2003 with a degree in finance.

The fifth Duke women's basketball coach in program history, Lawson joins Emma Jean Howard (1976-77), Debbie Leonard (1978-92), Gail Goestenkors (1993-2007) and Joanne P. McCallie (2008-20) that have led the Blue Devils.

Blue Devil fans can purchase 2020-21 season tickets and submit season ticket deposit for the 2021-22 season here.

The Kara Lawson File

Hometown: Alexandria, Va.

Education: Tennessee, 2003 (Finance)

High School: West Springfield High School

Husband: Damien Barling

Birthday: February 14, 1981

Coaching Experience:

2020-present: Duke University (Head Coach)

2019-20: Boston Celtics (Assistant Coach)

2017-present: USA Basketball 3-on-3 Team (Head Coach)

USA Basketball Highlights:

Preparing USA Basketball 3-on-3 Team for 2021 Tokyo Olympics

Helped lead 3x3 teams to six gold medals since 2017

Led U18 3x3 teams to three straight titles

Led 3x3 men's and women's teams to gold medal at 2019 Pan American Games

2009 National Team Training Camp

2008 National Team (Gold Medal)

2007 FIBA Americas Championship Team (Gold Medal)

2006 National Team Spring Training Team

2001 World University Games (Gold Medal)

1998 World Youth Games Team (Bronze Medal)

WNBA Highlights:

Surpassed 3,000 points, 800 rebounds and 700 assists over her 13-year career

Led nine of her teams to the playoffs out of 13 seasons

2009 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award winner

2007 WNBA All-Star

Led Sacramento Monarchs to WNBA Title in 2005

Drafted in the 2003 Draft, No. 5 overall, by the Detroit Shock

2003 WNBA Select Team that played in FIBA World Cup (2nd)

Tennessee Highlights:

Guided Tennessee to a 126-17 overall and 54-2 SEC record

Led Lady Vols to four straight SEC Tournament and regular season titles

Made 2000, 2002 and 2003 NCAA Final Four appearances

Ranks sixth all-time in scoring (1,950)

Four-time All-SEC First Team (2000-03)

Two-time Naismith Player of the Year finalist (2002-03)

Two-time U.S. Basketball Writers of America All-America honoree (2002-03)

2003 Kodak All-America

2003 Associated Press Second Team All-America

2003 Arthur Ashe Jr. Female Student-Athlete of the Year

2003 CoSIDA/Verizon First Team Academic All-America selection

2002 Associated Press Third Team All-America

2001 Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America

2001 CoSIDA/Verizon Academic All-District honoree

2000 Women's Basketball Journal Freshman All-America and SEC All-Freshman Team

5-star basketball prospect, Makur Maker commits Howard University

One of the top high school basketball recruits in the country made history Friday, announcing he will play for Howard University, a historically Black university.

Makur Maker is No. 16 on the ESPN 100 list for 2020. As such, Maker is the first five-star prospect to commit to an HBCU (Historically Black College and University) since ESPN began ranking prospects in 2007.

"I need to make the HBCU movement real so that others will follow," Maker tweeted. "I hope I inspire guys like Mikey Williams to join me on this journey. I am committing to Howard U & coach Kenny Blakeney."

Maker, a 6-feet 11-inch center, chose Howard over his three other finalists: UCLA, Kentucky and Memphis, according to The Undefeated.

ESPN reports Maker "averaged 14.7 points and 7.9 rebounds while shooting 73% on 2-pointers last spring and summer with Dream Vision on the Adidas grassroots circuit."

NFL will play 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' before each Week 1 game

Four weeks after commissioner Roger Goodell vowed to listen to and work with players in their fight for racial equality, the NFL is in the process of solidifying plans to honor victims of systemic racism with a number of in-game programs during opening week of the 2020 season.

Starting with the nationally televised regular-season opener between the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 10, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” also known as the Black national anthem, will be performed before every Week 1 kickoff, before "The Star-Spangled Banner," according to a person familiar with ongoing discussions. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because plans have not yet been finalized and announced by NFL officials.

Both anthems will be televised Sunday afternoon, and on "Sunday Night Football" and "Monday Night Football" contests as well. ESPN’s "Undefeated" first reported news of these plans.

[SOURCE: USA TODAY]

WNBA player Renee Montgomery sitting out 2020 WNBA season to fight for social justice

Renee Montgomery of the WNBA's Atlanta dream has announced that she would sit out the 2020 WNBA season to work on off-court initiatives such as the Black Lives Matter movement.

Montgomery released the following statement via Twitter:

After much thought, I’ve decided to opt out of the 2020 WNBA season. There’s work to be done off the court in so many areas in our community. Social justice reform isn’t going to happen overnight but I do feel that now is the time and Moments equal Momentum. Lets keep it going!

"I really took a leap of faith," Montgomery said in a ESPN article "I didn't have a specific plan, I just kind of knew that this is where my heart is, so let's see where it goes.

"It is very difficult, because I played basketball my whole life. Everybody has associated me with basketball. So to give up that comfort zone of basketball, yeah, that's scary. But in the same breath, I felt strongly enough that I knew whatever happens, this is the right decision for me."

Montgomery, who is from St. Albans, West Virginia, has her own foundation and has raised money to help protesters and support the Black Lives Matter movement. She will continue that work and also do speaking engagements in the Atlanta community and beyond.

Montgomery said she envisions a multiplatform approach for the issues she wants to address, including the voting problems that were in evidence in Atlanta recently with hourslong lines.

LeBron James starts voting rights group

LeBron James is creating a voting rights group aimed in part at motivating African Americans to cast ballots in November, the NBA star told The New York Times on Wednesday.

James told the Times that the idea to form the group, More Than a Vote, was fueled by the worldwide protests over racial inequality and police brutality sparked by the death of George Floyd in police custody.

“Because of everything that’s going on, people are finally starting to listen to us — we feel like we’re finally getting a foot in the door,” James told the Times. “How long is up to us. We don’t know. But we feel like we’re getting some ears and some attention, and this is the time for us to finally make a difference.”

In addition to looking to turn out voters, James said he wants to use his platform on social media to help combat voter suppression.

“Yes, we want you to go out and vote, but we’re also going to give you the tutorial,” James told the Times. “We’re going to give you the background of how to vote and what they’re trying to do, the other side, to stop you from voting.”

More Than a Vote will team up with voting rights organizations, including When We All Vote and Stacey Abrams’s Fair Fight, according to the Times.

James and business partner Maverick Carter are putting up the initial funding for the organization, according to the Times.

Russell Westbrook donates meals to hospital

Houston Rockets star Russell Westbrook is trying to help those who need it most. On Friday, Westbrook, 31, donated meals to workers at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital in California.

Westbrook visited the hospital — while wearing a mask and gloves — to hand out meals and take a picture with hospital workers.

Westbrook donated the meals as part of his Why Not? Foundation.

Today, April 15 is Jackie Robinson Day!

Today is Jackie Robinson Day in Major League Baseball.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Major League Baseball and the Jackie Robinson Foundation will hold their annual celebration on social media platforms and online by streaming content related to Jackie Robinson.

Since 2009, players, managers and coaches we are the number 42 on the back of their jerseys to mark the day.

Robinson is celebrated on this day because April 15th marks the day when the color barrier was broken in Major League baseball when Robinson made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

This year is the 73rd anniversary dating back to 1947.

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley named AP coach of the Year

Dawn Staley helped guide South Carolina to No. 1 and has now earned coach of the year honors from The Associated Press for the first time.

The veteran Gamecocks coach received 20 votes from the national media panel that selects the Top 25 poll each week.

“It’s a great feeling. It’s cliche as I represent the best team in the country and our coaching staff and our support staff. Our trainers and everybody. It’s great,” she said. “It’s something that we haven’t been able to celebrate, but we will celebrate it together at a later time.”

South Carolina finished the season 32-1, winning the SEC season and tournament championships. The Gamecocks won their final 26 games and were No 1 in the AP poll for the final 10 weeks of the season.

became the second African-American coach to win the AP award, joining Carolyn Peck, who was honored in 1999 when she coached Purdue. The two have long been connected; Peck gave Staley a piece of the NCAA championship net she won that season.

Staley brought that story to light when South Carolina won the NCAA title in 2017. She thought the Gamecocks would have had a good chance to win the title again this season had the NCAA Tournament not been canceled by the coronavirus outbreak.

“I would have liked to continue to face the challenges in the NCAA Tournament,” she said.

[SOURCE: YAHOO SPORTS]

Kerwin Danley to be named first African-American MLB crew chief

Major League Baseball announced has announced that umpire Kerwin Danley will be promoted to crew chief. Danley will be the first African-American crew chief in MLB.

Danley, 58, called his first game in the majors in 1992 as a minor league fill-in and was hired as a full time big league up in 1998. He has worked two World Series and has worked ten other postseason rounds. He has also called two All-Star Games.

Danley called his first game in the majors in 1992 as a fill-in and was hired to the MLB staff in 1998.

Barack Obama remembers Kobe Bryant in speech to NBA All-Stars

Former President Barack Obama spoke at the NBA's All-Star Weekend Newsmaker Brunch in Chicago Saturday. During his speech he took the time to reflect on the death of NBA superstar Kobe Bryant.

View this post on Instagram

It was a moving and emotional moment at the @nba All-Star Weekend Newsmaker Brunch when former President @barackobama spoke about Kobe Bryant. Watch this:

A post shared by Wolf Blitzer (@wolfblitzer) on Feb 15, 2020 at 10:08am PST

North Carolina A&T to leave MEAC

HBCU football powerhouse North Carolina A&T announced Friday it will move to the Big South Conference in 2021, a major blow to the shrinking Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

The Greensboro university, which announced the move during an on-campus news conference, will join the Big South on July 1, 2021 as the conference's 12th full-time member. It will have the largest enrollment in the conference and return football to eight teams (Presbyterian is departing this year), including three associate members.

N.C. A&T teams will be immediately eligible for Big South titles upon entry to the conference.

"We have been looking carefully at our opportunities in athletics for five years and more intensively over the past year," North Carolina A&T chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. said in a statement. "We're pleased to have brought that process to fruition and excited to be ushering in a new alliance with the Big South. This move makes great sense for our student-athletes, for our fans and for our bottom line. We will always have a place in our hearts for the MEAC, and we look forward to what the new conference will make possible for the Aggies."

The most significant ramifications are in football. N.C. A&T has developed into the leading power among HBCU football programs (historically black colleges and universities). It has won at least a share of three straight and five of the past six MEAC titles and four of the first five Celebration Bowls, which match the MEAC and Southwestern Athletic Conference champs, and generally decide the Division I black college football national title. The Aggies have gone 72-21 over eight straight winning seasons, including a 12-0 record in 2017.

[SOURCE: ESPN]

Kobe Bryant Memorial Ceremony: Too Big for the Staples Center

Plans for a public Kobe Bryant memorial ceremony are underway. While no official details of the date or location have been confirmed yet, one issue was apparently raised at a meeting to make arrangements for the event: while the Staples Center, known as the “House that Kobe Built,” is the intuitive place to stage the ceremony, it may simply not be large enough to accommodate the outpouring of public grief that organizers are anticipating.

TMZ reports that the L.A. Memorial Coliseum appears to be under consideration as a venue. The Coliseum is able to hold 80,000 people in the stands, and the surrounding parks could be used for overflow if needed. The Staples Center, by contrast, only holds 20,000 spectators inside. The TMZ post says that the Rose Bowl was brought up as a possibility, but while the capacity is larger, it seems the plan is to keep the event within the city of Los Angeles, rather than ask mourners to travel out to Pasadena.

In April, Staples hosted the public memorial service of slain rapper Nipsey Hussle. Tickets to attend the event were distributed within minutes of becoming available, and crowds spilled out into the L.A. Live plaza for hours.

[SOURCE: LAMAG]

Colin Kaepernick's tells NFL that he's ready after his workout

After an impressive workout in front of 8 scouts from NFL teams Colin Kaepernick let NFL owners know that he was ready to play and that the ball was in their court. Watch his comments below.

Bill Russell accepts Hall of Fame ring 44 years after induction

Bill Russell an 11-time NBA champion, five-time MVP, Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA champ tweeted on Friday that he was presented with his Hall of Fame ring in a private ceremony with friends and family that came four decades after he was first selected for the shrine in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Russell didn't attend his induction ceremony in 1975 because he didn't believe that he deserved to be the first black player inducted. He felt that Chuck Cooper, who in 1950 was the first African American player drafted by should have been in the Hall of Fame before him. Cooper was finally inducted in 2019.

Congrats to both Bill Russell and Chuck Cooper

In a private ceremony w/my wife & close friends A.Mourning @AnnMeyers @billwalton & others I accepted my #HOF ring. In ‘75 I refused being the 1st black player to go into the @Hoophall I felt others before me should have that honor. Good to see progress; ChuckCooperHOF19 @NBA pic.twitter.com/2FI5U7ThTg

— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) November 15, 2019

Colin Kaepernick to audition for NFL teams on Saturday

Colin Kaepernick plans to audition for NFL teams on Saturday in a private workout arranged by the league to be held in Atlanta.

A person familiar with the plans told The Associated Press the league's decision to invite all 32 teams to watch Kaepernick "came out of the blue with no prior communication." The person said Kaepernick's team was given a 2-hour window to accept the invitation and was denied a request to schedule the tryout on a Tuesday or another Saturday.

Kaepernick's representatives have asked the league to provide a rolling list of teams that plan to attend the workout to ensure it's a "legitimate process," according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because details haven't been made public.

Kaepernick hasn't played since 2016 with the San Francisco 49ers.

[SOURCE: ABC NEWS]

Claressa Shields named 2019 Sportswoman of the Year

For the second time in four years, Claressa Shields of Flint has been named the Sportswoman of the Year by the Woman’s Sports Foundation.

Shields won the award Wednesday night in New York City, topping a field of 10 finalists that included American gymnast Simone Biles. She won the award for individual sports.

"I’m honored to be the winner of the @womenssportsfoundation individual Sports woman of the year for the 2nd time!," Shields said in an Instagram post. "I love coming to the gala and seeing all of the other strong women! Shout to all the finalists! And congrats to all the award winners -yours truly GWOAT."

Shields (9-0-0, 2 KOs) also won the individual sports award in 2016.

Shields, 24, only fought once in 2019 but she recorded a unanimous decision over Germany’s Christina Hammer in April to become the undisputed middleweight champion of the world.

The Woman’s Sports Foundation was founded by tennis great Billie Jean King. This was the 40th year the Sportswoman of the Year awards were handed out.

Previous winners of the Sportswoman of the Year Award for individual sports include Biles, tennis player Serena Williams, gymnast Gabby Douglas, golfers Lorena Ochoa and Annika Sorenstam, skaters Michelle Kwan and Bonnie Blair, and jockey Julie Krone.

[SOURCE: MLIVE]

Coco Gauff wins first WTA tour title

American teenager Coco Gauff won her first WTA tour title by beating Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 on Sunday to lift the Linz Open trophy.

Gauff entered the tournament as a lucky loser, replacing injured sixth seed Maria Sakkari, having initially failed to make the main draw after suffering a straight-sets defeat to Germany's Tamara Korpatsch in qualifying.

"I'm still overwhelmed and shocked," Gauff said after her victory on Sunday.

"I guess it's crazy to say it's my first WTA title.

"This was definitely not on the calendar at the beginning of the year, because I didn't think I'd have a chance to get in, and now I'm the champion, so it's crazy.

"It's just literally insane that I got in as a lucky loser and now I'm the champion. My dad told me when I got in, before the first main-draw match: 'You can't lose twice in the same tournament!' I'm sure he never thought it would come this far, to being the champion, but I guess he was right."

[SOURCE:ESPN]

Philadelphia 76ers honor Charles Barkley with a statue

76ers alumni flooded the Complex Friday to witness Charles Barkley taking his place as the eighth Sixer to be immortalized with a statue on Legends Walk.

The celebration began with remarks from 76ers Co-Managing Partners Josh Harris and David Blitzer, General Manager Elton Brand, President Chris Heck, Barkley’s former coach and Hall of Famer Billy Cunningham, Head Coach Brett Brown, Play-by-Play Broadcaster Marc Zumoff, and Sir Charles himself.

“When you grow up in Leeds, Alabama, in the projects, and all these 56 years later, you’re standing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and you’ve had this amazing journey, all you can really say is thank you,” Barkley said.

During his remarks, Barkley recalled the adversity he faced en route to his illustrious career.

“People always said, ‘He’s undersized,’” Barkley said. “To all the small power forwards and short guards out there -- you can still get your thing done.”

That very spirit seems to have rubbed off on another player who was coming up through the ranks during Barkley’s prime.

“[Barkley] showed me -- It’s not the height, it’s the size of your heart, your will, and your passion to go get it and to compete at the highest level,” Brand said, calling Barkley “someone I looked up to and emulated in my game every day.”

Aside from inspiring young players nationwide, Barkley also managed to become an 11-time All Star, an 11-time All-NBA selection, the 1992-93 MVP, and two-time Olympic gold medalist before getting enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

Today, when Barkley’s not busy voicing NBA broadcasts on TNT, he spends his summers back in the city which drafted him in 1984.

“Man, Philadelphia. What an amazing city,” Barkley said. “My heart will always be here in Philadelphia.”

“He was a massive presence on the court,” Heck said. “What you don’t see is what Charles contributed off the court. He is still very much part of the community in a way that is iconic.”

The sculpture, commissioned by sculptor Chad Fisher, now becomes a permanent fixture in the lives of today’s Sixers.

Brown said he nods the club’s rich history every day when entering the facility, hoping his players do the same.

Considering the statues on Legends Walk and the banners hanging above the court, Brown said, “[It’s] truly breathtaking.”

[SOURCE: NBA.COM/SIXERS]

Brandon Curry wins the 2019 Mr. Olympia!

Brandon Curry was the prohibitive favorite to win the Olympia after winning the 2019 Arnold Classic, and he didn't disappoint.

Although he was challenged by William Bonac and People's Champion Hadi Choopan Curry became the 15th man to win the Olympia due to his overall size, conditioning, and total physique.

The champ took home $400,000 for his winning efforts.

The top 5 finishers were:

1st – Brandon Curry

2nd- William Bonac

3rd- Hadi Choopan

4th- Dexter Jackson

5th – Roelly Winklaar

Mr Olympia 2019 Winning ceremony: New Mr. Olympia Brandon Curry On Stage Interview!

Kawhi Leonard & L.A. Clippers Donating One Million Backpacks To Southern California Students

Kawhi Leonard, the L.A. Clippers Foundation and non-profit community partner Baby2Baby, announced this morning a gift of one million backpacks intended to reduce stress on low-income families headed back to school across Southern California. Every single student in the Moreno Valley Unified, Inglewood Unified and Los Angeles Unified School Districts will receive a new backpack to start the school year. Leonard made the announcement at Cloverdale Elementary School in his hometown of Moreno Valley, and was joined afterwards by Baby2Baby Ambassadors Zooey Deschanel, Busy Philipps and Nicole Richie and Co-Presidents Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Norah Weinstein at 107th Street Elementary School in Watts to distribute backpacks in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).

“My goal this year is to make a meaningful contribution both on and off the court. This felt like the right way to get started. It was important to me to make this announcement in my hometown of Moreno Valley at my former Elementary School, but the benefits this program will have across all of Los Angeles makes today even more special,” said Leonard.

In LAUSD alone, last year 80% of K-12 students were eligible for free or reduced lunch, meaning they come from a low-income family, are homeless, or are in the foster program. This gift is the largest in LAUSD history impacting every single student. It will allow hundreds of thousands of families to take the money they would spend on a backpack and use it instead on essential items like food, rent, utilities and more, which can make a major difference in a family’s livelihood. Today is the first day of school for more than 600,000 LAUSD students.

“We are overwhelmed with gratitude to the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard for this record-breaking donation to every student in Los Angeles Unified School District and beyond. Baby2Baby serves hundreds of thousands of children in poverty in Los Angeles, and backpacks are consistently one of the most highly-requested items for the school-aged children in our program,” said Sawyer Patricof and Weinstein. “For many of these children who are homeless or in foster care, backpacks not only hold their school books and homework, but also all of their personal belongings. If they have a backpack at all, it is often falling apart, and when a child does not have one, they resort to using a grocery or trash bag. The Clippers' donation will make these children feel the pride they deserve and give them the confidence they need to start the school year off on the right foot.”

“There are a lot of families throughout the L.A. region working hard every day to earn everything in their lives. This program is our effort to extend a hand to make heading back to school a little easier,” said Gillian Zucker, President of Business Operations, L.A. Clippers. “Our deepest appreciation goes out to Kawhi Leonard and Baby2Baby’s incredible network of ambassadors who walk the walk when it comes to using their platforms and voices to provide real solutions to impact the everyday lives of the people around us.”