Latest news with #WNBACaresCommunityAssistAward
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bigger Than Texas: Brittney Griner's Legacy
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) — Much like the state that raised her, the legacy of Baylor Women's Basketball great Brittney Griner in the state of Texas is larger than life. 'They say everything's bigger in Texas, everything's better in Texas,' Baylor junior guard Bella Fontleroy said. 'I think that she's one of the biggest and best things specifically for women's basketball and for our university.' Griner began her basketball journey at Nimitz High School in 2006, becoming the consensus number one prospect in the country and helping lead the Cougars to a 5A State championship appearance in 2009. Her former teammate, Kendra Venzant, is now the head coach at Nimitz High School and knew her teammate would be something special. 'To see her grow through different dynamics of Baylor, the WNBA and what she's doing now is just is like, 'I can't believe I know this person', it's surreal,' Venzant said. Griner committed to Baylor Women's Basketball and spent four years at Baylor, racking up quite the list of accomplishments: 3x All-American, Big 12 Player of the Year 4x Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year 2011-12 AP Player of the Year 2011-12 National Champion The Phoenix Mercury drafted Griner with the number one overall pick in the 2013 WNBA draft. A year later, Griner helped lead the Mercury to a WNBA title in just her second season in the league. 12 years later, Griner is a 10-time WNBA all-star and three-time Olympic gold medalist, continuing to add to her accolades. 'She's received all the accolades because she was that impactful on the game,' Fontleroy said. 'I think it's important that we continue to honor her.' However, while legacies are often made on the court, the relationships cultivated off of it may be the most memorable. Griner's work off the court, including working with initiatives like the 'Phoenix Rescue Mission' and 'Bring Our Families Home' as well as Griner's 'BG Heart & Sole Shoe Drive' earned her the WNBA Cares Community Assist Award in 2023. 'You can do a lot to win a lot of accolades on the court,' Venzant said. 'How you make someone feel off the court, that speaks volumes to your character and who you are as a person.' Becoming a role model for young black athletes in the state of Texas and beyond as Griner continues to be a trailblazer for women's basketball. 'She exemplifies black history,' Fontleroy said. 'You want to be one of those people when you grow up.''To be a woman but to also be black, that's huge,' Venzant said. Griner's indelible impact on black history is now forever remembered after having her jersey retired by Baylor and most recently, her induction into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame fo rher contribution toward Texas athletics. 'She's going to inspire more Texas athletes, more athletes, more black female athletes in general who play our sport to want to pursue basketball the way that she has and to leave their mark on it,' Fontleroy said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
28-01-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Lendistry Welcomes Azurá Stevens of the Los Angeles Sparks as Brand Ambassador
Stevens's record of community service and family history of small business ownership makes her the ideal representative for the mission-driven lender LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESS Newswire / January 28, 2025 / Lendistry announces today that Los Angeles Sparks forward-center, Azurá Stevens, has signed on as the minority-led fintech's first brand ambassador. Headquartered in a Los Angeles Opportunity Zone, Lendistry is the leading non-bank source of SBA 7(a) loans to small businesses in LA County and became the Official Small Business Lender of the LA Sparks in 2024. This collaboration deepens the lender's connection to the Sparks and supports its mission of changing the game for small businesses in LA and nationwide, especially those in underserved communities. 'We are so proud to welcome Azurá to the Lendistry team--like us, she's community-driven and wants her wins to help others win, too,' says Leeann Lynch, Chief Strategic Officer at Lendistry. 'Through this collaboration, we hope to show women, entrepreneurs, and young people what can happen when you commit to excellence for yourself and for something larger than yourself.' In late 2024 after participating in events throughout the year involving over 2,000 kids, Stevens received the 2024 Season-long WNBA Cares Community Assist Award. She is also no stranger to the impact of small business on families and local communities as her dad, a chef and entrepreneur, owns Same O Dame O's, a food truck in North Carolina that serves shrimp, fish and grits. Stevens recently helped the USA team win silver at the 2024 FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup, and is currently playing for team Rose in the inaugural season of 3x3 basketball league, Unrivaled. 'I am super excited to be joining the Lendistry family,' says Stevens. 'I love how Lendistry supports small business especially black & brown owned businesses and pours into the LA community. Two things that deeply resonate with me. I look forward to partnering with Lendistry and continuing the work to support small businesses.' As Lendistry's ambassador, Stevens will help Lendistry spread the word about financing options for small businesses to grow, while serving as a reminder of the passion, resilience and grit that athletes and small business owners share. About Lendistry B.S.D. Capital, Inc. dba Lendistry ( is a minority-led fintech that provides innovative lending products for small businesses and administers grant programs for government agencies nationwide. Headquartered in a Los Angeles Opportunity Zone, Lendistry uses technology and community partnerships to overcome systemic barriers to capital access and has deployed over $10 billion since its inception. In 2024, Lendistry CEO Everett K. Sands was an Entrepreneur Of The Year® Greater Los Angeles award winner. Lendistry has both Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Community Development Entity (CDE) certifications and is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco. Lendistry SBLC, LLC is an SBA Preferred Lender and the nation's only African American-led SBA designated Small Business Lending Company. In collaboration with The Center by Lendistry, a nonprofit business education organization, Lendistry provides economic opportunities and progressive growth for underserved urban and rural small business borrowers and their communities. Kate Kearns
