Redbird Basketball to Host Annual Play 4 Kay Game

Redbird Women’s Basketball will wear their pink jerseys in support of breast cancer (Photo Courtesy/Goredbirds.com).

NORMAL – Breast Cancer Awareness month may be over, but the fight never stops, especially for Redbird Basketball.

Sunday afternoon marks the annual Play-4-Kay game, a tradition across NCAA Women’s Basketball to help raise money for Breast Cancer. It’s a game to honor former NC State Wolfpack Head Coach Kay Yow, who lost her battle to cancer a decade ago. Coach Kay had a lasting impact on Women’s Basketball, and a bigger impact on the fight against cancer.

“She was such a fighter and she wanted to spread awareness of women’s cancers and raise some money for research,”said ISU Athletics Assistant Director of Marketing Jordan Ashley. “She started this fund and all Women’s Basketball teams across the nation raise money for breast cancer awareness.”

Head Coach Kristen Gillespie played under Coach Kay from 1996-1999, highlighted by a Final Four appearance in 1998. Gillespie also got the chance to coach alongside the legendary coach.

The game is just the start of the fight against cancer. Ashley said there will be a pregame survivor reception in addition to a new feature this year.

“Reggie Redbird himself will be crushing cancer right before tip-off.”

The Redbirds will host the Indiana State Sycamores Sunday afternoon at two.