The American Heart Association announced the formation of the Hearts on the Court Collective, a new initiative bringing together 19 NCAA women's basketball head coaches to address cardiovascular disease in women. Led by Louisiana State University hall of fame coach Kim Mulkey, the collective aims to leverage the influence of these coaches to educate fans, peers, and student athletes about heart health and prevention strategies. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for women in the United States, claiming over 440,000 lives annually, according to the American Heart Association.
"Women are often misdiagnosed and undertreated when it comes to cardiovascular disease," said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, in a press release. "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." The collective will launch public service announcements on social media throughout the women's college basketball season, focusing on the Association's Life's Essential 8™ for Women, which includes monitoring key health numbers, healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco avoidance, and quality sleep.
Kim Mulkey emphasized the personal importance of the initiative, stating, "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 collective's members include head coaches from prominent programs such as University of North Carolina, UCLA, Baylor University, University of Notre Dame, and Ohio State University, among others.
Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of all people in the U.S., including women, claiming more lives than all forms of cancer combined. The American Heart Association notes that approximately 80% of heart attacks and strokes are preventable, yet only about half of women are aware that heart disease is their greatest health threat. The Go Red for Women movement, which has been active for over two decades, seeks to close these awareness and care gaps. Resources are available at GoRedforWomen.org.
