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WNBA announces team business awards, Natalie Achonwa as Community Assist award winner

By Andy Brown

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 15: A general view of the Los Angeles Sparks logo before a game against the San Antonio Stars on June 15, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 15: A general view of the Los Angeles Sparks logo before a game against the San Antonio Stars on June 15, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Sparks and Dallas Wings took home awards for business success, while Achonwa was recognized for her community outreach efforts

The WNBA announced today that the Los Angeles Sparks and Dallas Wings were recipients of the league’s 2019 team business awards. Los Angeles took home recognition for Franchise of the Year, Ticket Sales Performance of the Year, Marketing Performance of the Year, while Dallas was recognized with the Partnership Performance of the Year award. The 12 teams were judged over the course of the 2019 season based on a quantitative system that tracked metrics within tickets sales, partnerships and marketing.

The Sparks won Franchise of the Year by virtue of their success in ticket sales and marketing. With a sales campaign that led to increases for group ticket sales, full-season ticket memberships and gate receipts, Los Angeles lead the league in attendance with close to 200,000 fans attending home games. That was a six percent increase over the 2018 season. This went hand-in-hand with a social responsibility marketing campaign, that led to not only increases in individual tickets sales, but also digital engagement. With #SparkTheTrueYou, the team helped promote mental health awareness and care for current and former female members of the military.

Dallas won its Partnership Performance award for its success in partnership retention and revenue growth. The Wings retained all of their partners from the 2018 season, with an emphasis on health and wellness companies, leading to a 40 percent growth in partnership revenue.

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Additionally, last week, Indiana Fever center Natalie Achonwa received the WNBA Community Assist Award Presented By State Farm. Achonwa played a big role in the team’s 20 Towns for 20 Seasons tour, which included appearances at a variety of community events and basketball tournaments. According to a league release, she is “dedicated to helping organizations that focus on mental health, anti-bullying and suicide prevention in addition to helping with education and literacy among youth, adopt-a-pet, and empowering women.”

“A big part of my ‘why’ is focused around the next generation,” Achonwa said in a statement. “I want to be able to lead and inspire them to reach their dreams, and ultimately do better than me. I love being able to use my experience as a college graduate and professional athlete to give back to a community that gives so much to us.”

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