WNBA's Capital Community Gains
WNBA Players Past and Present Reach Out To America's Future
D.C.'s Boys And Girls Clubs get visits from the WNBA in All Star Week.
Actor Denzel Washington still sings the praises of the Boys And Girls Club of America, calling it the “positive place,” decades since his days at the club’s Mt. Vernon, New York location.
WNBA legends and its burgeoning active All-Stars took time out of their Thursday afternoon to visit one of these positive places, sharing their basketball expertise with Washington D.C. area youth. Youngsters were shown dribbling tricks, shooting skills, passing prowess and much more at D.C.’s Daniel & Mary Loughorn chapter of the Boys and Girls Clubs.
Retired New York Liberty Center Kym Hampton was one of those beacons of basketball greatness there with the kids. Having scored the Liberty’s first basket in the league’s inaugural game (a 67-57 win by New York over the Los Angeles Sparks on June 21, 1997), she enjoys her pioneering role on and off the court.
“We can be the focal point of all inspiration,” says Hampton. “If we can take our individual skills and talents into the community to hopefully inspire just one, or two, or three, then, it’s great!”
Truth be told, they reached out to hundreds. The children and superstars worked side-by-side learning the in’s and out’s of a sport, and about life.
“I like everything they did,” says 8 year old Kaysia Licon. “I don’t know everything.”
The children listened to speeches regarding the importance of aspects highlighted by the WNBA’s Be Smart, Be Fit, Be Yourself campaign. Experts taught them about everything from education to teamwork, to the importance of staying physically in shape. They then broke off into groups. They dribbled while weaving their way around pylons, shot lay-ups, jump-shots, and attempted three pointers and even half-court shots.
While lessons were to be learned, the idea was to have fun.
“It was fun,” says 10 year old Isis Hudgins. “I play basketball at home too, it’s cool.”
Non-all-stars from the Washington Mystics also made their off-court presence known in their home market. New recruit Yelena Leuchanka enjoyed coaching the kids along with Hampton and others.
“Working with the kids is awesone,” Leuchanka says. “I just realize how much I missed as a kid, being from another country…not being able to participate in things like this.” Leuchanka arrives in D.C. having grown up in Belarus and playing basketball in European professional leagues and at the University of West Virginia.
With the help of their friends at the WNBA, the Boys And Girls Clubs of America strive to be the strongest role model possible for the nation’s youth. Both hope to reach out to all they serve, and touch lives, evident throughout the weekend of the 2007 WNBA All Star Game at the Verizon Center in D.C.
Does the club’s plan work?
“It did for me,” says Washington.
