YUMA, Ariz. - The Arizona Western women's and men's basketball teams host Eastern Arizona this afternoon with both games playing a pivotal role in the regular season and conference standings. An even bigger event is taking place before both games tip-off. 

"Before both games, fans are encouraged to fill out a special card and write a name of a loved one who has either passed away from cancer, is battling cancer or defeated it," Arizona Western Sports Information Director and Assistant Sports Director Scott Gross said. "Before starting lineups are announced, we'll honor those warriors with a special announcement and moment of silence while we hold those cards up. Our teams, players and staff will be included with our fans. Pretty powerful stuff."

On October 1, 2025, the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) announced a three-year partnership with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund—marking the NJCAA's first-ever official charity designation.

Coach Kay Yow, Hall of Fame basketball coach and 22-year breast cancer survivor, believed in the power of sports to unite people and drive change. During her own cancer battle, she sketched a dream on the back of a napkin: rally 5,000 teams to each give $1,000 to raise $5 million in the fight against all cancers affecting women. 

That vision became the Kay Yow Cancer Fund—founded to expand access to care, support women through treatment, and celebrate survivorship. Since then, the Fund has awarded $9.5 million to scientific research and programs that serve the under-resourced, uniting people in the fight against cancer.

"This partnership is a powerful step toward realizing Coach Yow's vision," said Jenny Palmateer, CEO of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. "She believed in the ability of sport to bring people together for something greater. By joining forces with the NJCAA, we're expanding our mission—bringing education, access, and hope to more campuses, athletes, and communities nationwide."

Each college is challenged with raising $1,000 for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, money that is used for life-saving cancer research, underserved programs that provide access to quality cancer healthcare, and uniting people in the fight against all cancers affecting women. The link to send a pledge can be accessed by clicking here.

"On our name cards there is also a QR code to scan that takes you right to the pledge page," Gross said. "It will also show that the pledge or donation is coming from Arizona Western College and our area. Our cheer and dance teams will be outside the gym at a table with a pink tablecloth handing out the cards and other giveaways."

A key element to a Play4Kay game is taking the time to celebrate female cancer survivors & thrivers. Whether it's at halftime, after the buzzer, or during the game, lifting up those courageous women is important.
When Coach Yow established the Fund, she wanted nothing more than for these warriors to be honored, lifted up, encouraged, and given hope. She believed that united together, we could do amazing things. 

Arizona Western College joins early list of 28 NJCAA institutions that have hosted Play4Kay events over the last few years, laying the foundation for a nationwide movement powered by athletes, coaches, and campus communities. 

Uniting players, coaches, officials, and fans to do something for the greater good that far exceeds wins and losses in competition, the Play4Kay initiative is more than a cause, it's a movement.

The women's basketball game against #2 ranked Eastern Arizona is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m. this afternoon, followed by the men's game at 4:00 p.m.