19 women’s college basketball coaches join forces to improve women’s cardiovascular health

(Press-News.org) DALLAS, Oct. 30, 2025 — Both on the court and off, cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of women in the United States, taking the lives of more than 440,000 women each year, according to the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere. The Association’s Go Red for Women® movement is working to raise awareness, improve education and inspire action to help women better understand and learn how to prevent their number one health threat. For the first time, 19 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) women’s college basketball coaches are rolling up their sleeves and putting on their red dress pins to take a stand in support of women’s health through the Hearts on the Court Collective. 

This inaugural year of the Hearts on the Court Collective, led by Louisiana State University women’s basketball hall of fame head coach Kim Mulkey, is committed to raising awareness of cardiovascular disease in women while empowering fans, their peers and student athletes to take charge of their cardiovascular health. Because losing even one woman to a disease that is mostly preventable is one woman too many.

“Women are often misdiagnosed and undertreated when it comes to cardiovascular disease and there are many reasons why that is so important to recognize. From low representation of women in clinical research to women being less likely to receive lifesaving bystander CPR, major gaps exist,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “For more than 20 years, the American Heart Association and its Go Red for Women movement have empowered women to listen to their bodies, to seek care when something feels wrong and to advocate for the care they deserve. 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.”

Throughout the women’s college basketball season, the Heart Association’s new Collective will launch a series of public service announcements through social media that highlight ways women can be on the offense of heart health through Life’s Essential 8™ for Women. These calls to action include:

Knowing key health numbers including blood pressure, blood cholesterol and blood sugar/glucose Embracing healthy eating, Moving more through physical activity, Abstaining from tobacco use and Getting quality, healthy sleep. The Collective will also highlight the importance of women understanding how unique life stages, such as pregnancy and menopause, can affect cardiovascular disease 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 Kim Mulkey, women’s basketball head coach at Louisiana State University and chair of the Hearts on the Court Collective. “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 of the Hearts on the Court Collective are all head coaches at NCAA women’s basketball programs. Along with Mulkey, other members include:

Katie Abrahamson-Henderson – University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia Courtney Banghart – UNC (University of North Carolina), Chapel Hill, North Carolina Jennie Baranczyk – University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma Kim Barnes Arico – University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan Kenny Brooks – University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky Kim Caldwell – University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee Cori Close – UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), Los Angeles, California Nicki Collen – Baylor University, Waco, Texas Kristy Curry – University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama Kelly Rae Finley – University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida Lindsay Gottlieb – USC (University of Southern California), Los Angeles, California Jacie Hoyt – Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma Niele Ivey – University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana Jan Jensen – University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa Kevin McGuff – Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio Molly Miller – Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona Teri Moren – Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana Charmin Smith – University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California Cardiovascular disease continues to be the No. 1 killer of all people in the U.S., including women, claiming more lives than all forms of cancer combined. According to the American Heart Association, approximately 80% of heart attacks and strokes are preventable. Nearly 45% of women over age 20 are living with some form of the disease, yet only around half of women are aware that this is their greatest health threat. The good news is that the majority of cardiovascular events can be prevented through lifestyle changes and education.

The Association’s Go Red for Women movement is committed to addressing awareness and clinical care gaps and meeting the needs of women in every age, stage and season of life as a trusted, relevant source for credible, science-backed health solutions.

Find resources to support women’s heart health at GoRedforWomen.org.

About the American Heart Association 

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.   

About Go Red for Women® 

The American Heart Association’s signature initiative, Go Red for Women®, is a comprehensive platform designed to increase women’s heart health awareness and serve as a catalyst for change to improve the lives of women globally. While the majority of cardiac events can be prevented, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, claiming the lives of 1 in 3 women. For more than two decades, Go Red for Women has encouraged awareness. The movement harnesses the energy, passion and power of women to band together and collectively wipe out heart disease. It challenges them to know their risk for heart disease and take action to reduce their personal risk. It also gives them tools they need to lead a heart healthy life. The Go Red for Women movement is nationally sponsored by CVS Health, with additional support from national cause supporters. For more information, please visit GoRedforWomen.org or call 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721). 

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