The burden of her looming surgery was tough for her to handle, but she did not want her status to affect the team on the trip, so she kept the news of her health problems to herself. On June 1, the day after the team returned from Australia, Sylvia Hatchell underwent a laparoscopic hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, removing her cervix and ovaries. After receiving a clean bill of health, Coach Hatchell realized how lucky she was and immediately began to make a difference. She has pledged to donate five dollars for every women's basketball ticket sold this year to ovarian cancer research. She has also garnered the support of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association whose CEO, Betty Jaynes, will donate a dollar for every season ticket sold.
Season tickets are on sale now.
There are many reasons for everyone to run out and purchase tickets on top of the donation to cancer research. The UNC women's basketball team is looking forward to a very successful season. The team has great senior leadership coming from guards Juana Brown and Leah Sharp. They have size and strength inside with junior center LaShonda Allen and a rising star at point guard in sophomore Coretta Brown. Combine the strong supporting cast with a prized recruiting class and you have the ingredients for a special team.