Click Here to Pledge

ST. LOUIS – ESPN’s Debbie Antonelli had a vision to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of women’s sports in the Missouri Valley Conference by allowing local children in the Quad Cities area the chance to enjoy college hoops in person. That vision has turned into reality.

The idea started in St. Louis on MVC Hoops Media Day in October and came to fruition with the first pledge coming on air during the Northern Iowa at Southern Illinois women’s basketball game in January. 

While serving as an analyst during The Valley on ESPN3 broadcast on January 5 in Carbondale, Antonelli challenged fellow broadcasters Scott Warmann and Kelly Burke to join her in the initiative and pledge to buy all-session tickets for the MVC Women’s Basketball Tournament in the Quad Cities. 

 “I am excited to celebrate with the Missouri Valley Conference’s 25 years of women's hoops,” said Debbie Antonelli.  “I've had a long-standing relationship with the Valley as the early part of my broadcasting career was spent broadcasting MVC Men's and Women's Basketball games.”

The Debbie Antonelli Ticket Challenge became an initiative aimed to provide free tickets for elementary and middle school kids in the Quad Cities to attend Hoops in the Heartland at TaxSlayer Center in Moline, Illinois on March 8-11.

“I initiated the ticket campaign because it’s a special year in the Valley and I know there are many coaches and players that have enjoyed a launch to their careers thru the Valley. Nothing makes me happier than the combination of basketball and watching kids enjoy the game,” added Antonelli.

Antonelli, Burke and Warmann all pledged to buy four all-session tickets and challenged other coaches, fans and officials to do the same.

Since then, over 100 all-session tickets have been donated to the MVC’s Middle School Madness Sportsmanship Program for participants in a poster and essay contest that is taking place in the Quad Cities area.

The contest includes area students in the Quad Cities in grades third through eighth. Students that enter will receive a pair of tickets for a session of the MVC tournament.

All 10 MVC coaches have stepped forward to donate along with Missouri Head Coach Robin Pingeton, Iowa State Head Coach Bill Fennelly, Iowa Head Coach Lisa Bluder, Minnesota Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve, South Carolina Associate Head Coach Lisa Boyer and ESPN’s Beth Mowins and Mechelle Voepel.

“No one cares more about women’s college basketball than Debbie Antonelli and the Missouri Valley Conference is fortunate to be part of her circle of friends,” stated MVC Senior Associate Commissioner Patty Viverito.  “Debbie’s ticket drive to bring kids to the MVC Women’s Basketball Tournament in the Quad Cities is just one of many ways that Debbie creatively and generously supports our game.”

For more information about Hoops in the Heartland please visit www.mvcquadcities.com.