National Girls & Women in Sports Day is February 1, 2023, and Pacers Sports & Entertainment is marking this important day with a series of community and in-game activities. This annual celebration, now in its 37th year since being first initiated in 1987, is a yearly opportunity to encourage more girls to participate in sports and acknowledge the importance of further opening avenues for women pursuing careers in this industry.
This year’s activities include:
National Girls & Women in Sports Breakfast at Southport High School
Fever players Kelsey Mitchell, NaLyssa Smith, and Lexie Hull will visit Southport High School for a meet & greet with the female students at the school. The players will spend time with the students, participate in a Q&A, take photos, and more.
Time: 8:15 – 9:30 AM
Place: Southport High School, 971 E Banta Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46227
National Girls & Women in Sports Lunch at Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet High School
Fever players Kelsey Mitchell, NaLyssa Smith, and Lexie Hull will also visit Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet High School to have lunch with female students at the school. They will also participate in a Q&A and take photos with the students.
Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (3 shifts)
Place: Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet High School, 1140 Dr Martin Luther King Jr St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) Girls Basketball Sectionals
Lawrence Central High School
Fever players Kelsey Mitchell and NaLyssa Smith, as well as Fever mascot Freddy Fever, will attend the IHSAA Girls Sectional Basketball Games at Lawrence Central High School on Wednesday night. The players will sign autographs, take photos, and participate in a t-shirt toss and the ceremonial tip.
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Place: Lawrence Central High School, 7300 E 56th St, Indianapolis, IN 46226
Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) Girls Basketball Sectionals
Southport High School
Fever player Lexie Hull and Fever mascot Freddy Fever will attend the IHSAA Girls Sectional Basketball Games at Southport High School on Wednesday night. They will sign autographs, take photos, and participate in a t-shirt toss and the ceremonial tip.
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Place: Southport High School, 971 E Banta Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46227
Indiana Pacers vs Los Angeles Lakers – Thursday, February 2, 2023
GAINBRIDGE – Special National Girls & Women in Sports Halftime Presentation
As a proud sponsor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, Gainbridge recognizes all the athletes, coaches, and administrators working toward gender equity in sports.
Gainbridge will honor several local role models who’ve helped change the game for girls and women everywhere:
Kelly Krauskopf: Assistant general manager of the Pacers and the first female in NBA history to hold that position.
Mildred Ball: Served as assistant commissioner for the Indiana High School Athletic Association for 20 years and the first Black woman to be inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
Julie Roe Lach: Horizon league commissioner, an honoree of Women Leaders in College Sports, and Indiana Sports Corp Board Chairperson.
Lin Dunn: A longtime WNBA coach who led the Fever to the 2012 WNBA champion, and current Fever general manager.
Christie Sides: A longtime college, international, and WNBA assistant coach, a former Fever assistant and the current Fever Head Coach.
Lexie Hull: Indiana Fever guard and a three-time All Pac-12 selection.
GAINBRIDGE – Special In-Game Shoot-Out Event
Fever players Nalyssa Smith and Kelsey Mitchell will compete in a shooting contest against two young female fans picked randomly from the crowd.
Gainbridge will donate $50 for each made shot to the National Girls & Women in Sports Foundation, up to $5,000!
Race Car Driver Sabre’ Cook and Professional Golfer August Kim To Celebrate With PS&E
Sabré Cook and August Kim will be on-hand for a pregame autograph signing on main concourse for fans
6pm-6:45pm
Sabré Cook will lead the pre-game Rev Up moment
August Kim will conduct a pre-game gift exchange with a Pacers player
National Girls & Women in Sports Senate Resolution – February 6, 1-2 PM
Indiana State Senator Kyle Walker will offer a resolution on the floor of the Indiana Senate, recognizing the Indiana Fever during National Girls & Women in Sports Day
The resolution will emphasize the important impacts sports participation has for girls in Indiana and the power of women in the sports industry as critical role models for Hoosier girls.