The American Heart Association announced the launch of the Hearts on the Court Collective, a new initiative that enlists 19 NCAA women's college basketball coaches to champion women's cardiovascular health. Led by Louisiana State University hall of fame head coach Kim Mulkey, the collective aims to raise awareness about heart disease, which kills more than 440,000 women annually in the United States, according to the Association.
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death among women, claiming more lives than all forms of cancer combined. The American Heart Association notes that approximately 80% of heart attacks and strokes are preventable, yet many women are unaware of their risk. The Go Red for Women movement, now in its 20th year, seeks to close these gaps through education and action.
Throughout the women's college basketball season, the collective will release public service announcements on social media promoting Life's Essential 8™ for Women, which includes knowing key health numbers like blood pressure and cholesterol, embracing healthy eating, moving more, abstaining from tobacco, and getting quality sleep. The initiative will also highlight how life stages such as pregnancy and menopause affect cardiovascular risk.
"We all have women in our lives we can’t bear to live without - our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, our friends. Women need allies in the fight against a disease that takes so much from them," said Mulkey. "I know firsthand how important heart health is. By coming together to highlight the ways that heart disease can be prevented, we are working to champion women’s health and empower the next generation of female athletes and those they love to take charge of their well-being."
The inaugural members include head coaches from programs such as the University of Georgia, University of North Carolina, University of Oklahoma, University of Michigan, University of Kentucky, University of Tennessee, UCLA, Baylor University, University of Alabama, University of Florida, USC, Oklahoma State University, University of Notre Dame, University of Iowa, Ohio State University, Arizona State University, Indiana University, and University of California, Berkeley.
Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, emphasized the importance of the collective: "These influential women’s NCAA basketball coaches joining the new Hearts on the Court Collective are helping us to amplify this message with so many more people through their dedication to the women they coach and mentor."
Nearly 45% of women over age 20 are living with some form of cardiovascular disease, yet only about half are aware it is their greatest health threat. The Hearts on the Court Collective aims to change that by leveraging the visibility and influence of college basketball coaches to encourage women to take charge of their heart health. For more information, visit GoRedforWomen.org.
