SAN FRANCISCO – With the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX approaching on June 23, the Pac-12’s “powHER of the Pac” campaign continues with “Our Stories: Title IX 50th Anniversary,” presented by Carvana, set to debut on Thursday, June 23 at 7 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. MT on Pac-12 Network.The feature includes a detailed look at the growth and success of the Pac-12 women’s basketball tournament, as well as individual features on Jackie Joyner-Kersee (UCLA), Layshia Clarendon (California) and Kathleen “Rocky” LaRose (Arizona).

Pac-12 Networks is highlighting student-athletes, coaches and administrators from across the Conference of Champions with digital features published to its various social media platforms, including Ryneldi Becenti (Arizona State), Jenny Simpson (Colorado), English Gardner (Oregon), Sylvia Moore (Oregon state), Brenda Villa (Stanford), Barbara Hallquist DeGroot (USC), Charmelle Green (Utah), Tina Frimpong Ellertson (Washington) and Sue Durrant/Marcia Saneholtz (Washington State).

Programming Highlights – “Our Stories: Title IX 50th Anniversary” presented by Carvana

Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament 

• The feature illustrates a detailed look at the tireless work accomplished by female Pac-12 employees to continue an upward trajectory of growth for the tournament, itself, in conjunction with the development of the Pac-12 as an elite women’s basketball conference. 
  • “The experience that we’re able to deliver to our student-athletes is first-class. The thing I’m the most proud of is just how we have invested in women’s basketball in this conference.” – Teresa Gould, Pac-12 Deputy Commissioner, Sports Management & Institutional Services
• The impact of Title IX is also showcased, as head coaches and Pac-12 administrators comment on the public support for women’s basketball and the availability of scholarships and resources, realities that were not the norm for previous generations of female student-athletes. 
  • “I’ve worked in college athletics for over 40 years, so over my lifetime, I’ve seen a tremendous amount of change in women’s sports and I think Title IX was responsible for initiating that change.” – Chris Dawson, former Pac-12 Associate Commissioner

Jackie Joyner-Kersee (UCLA)

• Jackie Joyner-Kersee chronicles her journey to becoming one of the greatest athletes of all time and subsequent ventures in philanthropy in her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri.
• Former student-athletes and coaches from across the Pac-12 speak to Joyner-Kersee’s greatness and inspirational story as a pioneer and monumental role model for women’s athletics. 
  • “Having that presence coming from UCLA into the world stage like that, it made, certainly, track & field relevant but also women’s sports relevant. Women’s sports [are] in a [much] better place because Jackie was able to pave that way.” – Avery Anderson, Director of Track & Field/Cross Country at UCLA

Layshia Clarendon (Cal)

• The feature illustrates Layshia Clarendon’s role as a star player for the Golden Bears in their run to the Final Four in 2013, and examines Clarendon’s development as a social justice leader and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. 
• Clarendon recalls the impact of working with other professional athletes to speak out against systemic racism and influence electoral politics. 
• “Layshia, I think, is one of the people in my life that has challenged me to think differently, and I say that with the utmost gratitude.” – Lindsay Gottlieb, USC (and former Cal) Women’s Basketball Head Coach

Kathleen “Rocky” LaRose (Arizona)

• This feature tells the story of Rocky LaRose’s journey from student-athlete to becoming the first woman to oversee football and men’s basketball at Arizona, as well as becoming a Deputy Athletic Director, and subsequently taking the reins as Athletic Director for the Wildcats. 
• Former Arizona women’s basketball player and current head coach Adia Barnes discusses LaRose’s positive impact on her life, particularly the inspiration of simply having a woman in the Athletic Director’s chair. 
  • “I always say this to the younger women: ‘Policy can change your life.’ And it did for me, because once I was a member of a university, collegiate varsity program, that’s when the doors flew open.” – LaRose, former student-athlete, administrator, and Athletic Director at Arizona.  

“powHER of the Pac” Campaign

The "powHER of the Pac: Celebrating 50 Year of Title IX" campaign celebrates the storied history and successes of Pac-12 women's sports, and commemorates Title IX's golden anniversary.

This campaign launched following Stanford women's golf's NCAA championship victory, the 200th NCAA women's sports championship among Pac-12 universities, making the Pac-12 the first conference to 200 women's NCAA titles.

HOW TO WATCH (all broadcasts also available in HD via the Pac-12 now app)

• Thursday, June 23
  • Our Stories: Title IX 50th Anniversary, presented by Carvana
    • 7 p.m. PT / 8  p.m. MT on Pac-12 Network and the Pac-12 Now app

PAC-12 NOW APP

All broadcasts are also available in HD via the Pac-12 Now app (for iOS, Android, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV). For more information and to see a list of the multiple options to access Pac-12 Networks anywhere across the United States, please visit GetPac12Networks.com. 

GET PAC-12 NETWORKS

All Pac-12 Networks coverage can be seen on Pac-12 Network, the Pac-12 Now app (for iOS, Android, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV) or the appropriate regional channel. Pac-12 Networks subscribers have access to all seven HD channels via the Pac-12 Now app. More information on the multiple options to access and receive Pac-12 Networks anywhere in the United States is available at GetPac12Networks.com. Coverage of the 2022-23 season for all Pac-12 sports can also be followed all year long across the Pac-12 and Pac-12 Networks’ digital and social media channels on Pac-12.com, Twitter (@Pac12Network and @Pac12), Facebook (facebook.com/Pac12Conference), Instagram (@Pac12Conference), Snapchat (@pac12conference) and Pac-12 Networks’ YouTube channel.