Phoenix Mercury to Host “Be the Match” Night on July 28th

(Phoenix, Ariz.) – The Phoenix Mercury will host its inaugural Be The Match Night on Tuesday, July 28 when the team takes on the Chicago Sky at US Airways Center. The evening will feature the club’s fourth Be The Match bone marrow registry drive since last season, designed to find a match for those in need of a life-saving bone marrow transplant. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

As announced earlier this week, 18-year-old Valley resident Ashley Perisho was identified as a potential match for a person in need of a transplant after registering at a Be The Match drive hosted by the Phoenix Mercury last season. Perisho will be on-hand during Tuesday’s donation drive to share her story and encourage others to register, as well.

As part of the Be The Match Drive, fans are encouraged to sign up for the national bone marrow registry in the Casino Arizona Pavilion during pre-game, or in the Verizon COURTyard throughout the remainder of the night. Joining the donor registry takes about 5 minutes and consists of a simple cheek swab and consent form. Any fan that is identified as a match for a patient will be contacted for further testing at that time.

The special night will also include participation by those who are in need of, have donated, or have received a life-saving bone marrow transplant, including the presentation of a giant American flag during the national anthem, and the X-Factor siren rung by Coach Mia. A number of families from Be The Match and other non-profits that work with those in need of a bone marrow transplant will attend the game, courtesy of the Mercury.

Last season, the Mercury created national awareness for Be The Match, the nation’s largest bone marrow registry organization, when the team signed 12-year-old Mia McPoland as its honorary assistant coach during the 2014 playoffs and hosted three bone marrow registry drives in her honor. As a result, one registrant was found to be a potential match for a person awaiting a bone marrow transplant, more than 200 donors were added to the registry and a total of $4,200 was raised for the organization in hopes of finding potential matches for Coach Mia and others like her.

Sandy Brondello, 2014 WNBA Coach of the Year, leads 2014 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Brittney Griner, All-Star Candice Dupree and three-time WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year DeWanna Bonner as the Mercury continue to defend their title during Be The Match Night on Tuesday, July 28 at 7 p.m. against the Chicago Sky at US Airways Center. Single game tickets, as well as exclusive four-game plan options and pro-rated X-Factor Memberships, are available by calling 602-252-WNBA or by visiting PhoenixMercury.com.