MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx will celebrate Juneteenth tomorrow with programming focused on reflecting, educating, and celebrating the federal holiday. Juneteenth, celebrated annually on June 19 since 1866, honors African American freedom and achievements while promoting self-development and cultural respect to ensure all communities can thrive.
With the Lynx hosting the Atlanta Dream on June 19 (tipoff 7:00 p.m. CT), a variety of celebratory Juneteenth programming is planned for in-game and will feature the following. Lynx players will also wear special Juneteenth warm-up shirts.
- National Anthem | Monique Blakey: Blakey is a singer/songwriter and discovered her voice at the age of five. Blakey has auditioned for network television shows American Idol and The Voice, recorded with several mainstream artists and acted in several stage productions.
- Black National Anthem | Chelsea Phillip and Elisha Phillip: the brother-sister duo will perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing” featuring Chelsea on vocals and Elisha on keys.
- Halftime Performance | TKO Drumline and Knockout Dance Team: Minneapolis-based TKO Drumline and Knockout Dance Team is a dynamic musical group made up of young people from the north metro and north Minneapolis. The group was founded in 2010 by Byron Hawkins to teach drumming techniques and rudiments to young people ages 8-18.
- In-arena Spotlight | SPRAYFiNGER & Art Show: SPRAYFiNGER is a graffiti arts community dedicated to elevating the art and culture of graffiti through educational programs and collaborations.
- Inspiring Woman: Leslie Redmond: As part of the Lynx “Inspiring Women” series, Redmond, former president of the Minneapolis NAACP and founder of Don’t Complain Activate, will be recognized for her advocacy around advancing and creating more equitable work environments.
Additionally, through the Pack Gives Back ticket program, free tickets will be distributed to local organizations supporting and uplifting the Black community. Organizations in attendance for the night’s game will include SPRAYFiNGER in addition to:
TreeHouse: TreeHouse has been serving teens since 1984, helping them build relationships and resiliency rooted in living hope. Based in Minnesota with sites across the country, TreeHouse host programs give teens a safe space to find support and belonging.
St. Paul Youth Services (SPYS): SPYS mission is to improve our community’s collective ability to engage and support Black youth by pioneering practices, creating tools, and sharing resources across the state, the country, and the world.
College Possible: College Possible is making college admission and success possible for students from low-income backgrounds through an intensive curriculum of coaching and support.
Tomorrow’s game will air on Bally Sports North Extra and can be heard on KFAN-FM 100.3 and streamed on the iHeartRadio and Lynx app.