SAN FRANCISCO - Tonight’s brand-new installment of “Pac-12 Playlist,” presented by New York Life, spotlights the 2020 Pac-12 Sportsmanship Award-winning Oregon State women’s basketball team tonight at 7 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. MT on Pac-12 Network.

 

Nominated by the University of Oregon Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the Pac-12 Sportsmanship Award recognizes the strength of character and tremendous sportsmanship of the Beavers towards the Ducks prior to their rivalry game on January 26. That day, the basketball world was shaken by the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna “Gigi” Bryant, and seven others. The Oregon State team prioritized compassion over competition, embracing the Oregon team prior to tipoff, and joining them in a prayer in memory of the nine victims. Host Mike Yam sits down with Oregon State’s Aleah Goodman and Maddie Washington, who talk about the importance of supporting their rivals in a time of need.

 

"What can we do to help them?"@mwashington2016 recalls approaching @RuthyHebard24 to initiate a prayer with @BeaverWBB and @OregonWBB ahead of the Civil War on January 26.

Hear more from the Pac-12 Sportsmanship winners tonight on Pac-12 Playlist at 7 PT/ 8 MT. pic.twitter.com/ssWNqJzqQp

— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) May 7, 2020

 

“...it was just a moment where nothing else mattered. The game didn’t matter, the rivalry didn’t matter at all, and it was just people coming together to grieve,” said Goodman. “We knew that Kobe meant a lot to that program. He went to a few of their games, a lot of the girls had a relationship with him, a friendship, and we knew they were heartbroken... Just coming together was really special, and it just showed that it was way bigger than basketball.”

 

Also featured in tonight’s episode, Stanford legendary women’s basketball head coach Tara VanDerveer sits down with host Ashley Adamson to share what she remembers about her life-changing decision to take her dream job on The Farm, which happened 35 years ago this week. Pac-12 Networks is honoring the Hall of Famer with a marathon featuring select games from throughout her storied career, airing all day today on Pac-12 Network.

 

The full interview with Goodman and Washington is available now on the “Pac-12 Perspective” podcast, presented by Nike, wherever fans get their podcasts. On Tuesday, UCLA’s Natalie Chou sat down with Yam on the podcast to talk about the importance of being an inspiration to other Asian-American females and speaking out against the racism that has been inflamed by the COVID-19 pandemic. On Wednesday’s installment, current Miami Dolphin Patrick Laird took hosts Adamson and Yogi Roth though his football journey, which started as a walk-on at California. Laird gives advice to NFL hopefuls, and also talks about his relationship with former Pac-12 opponent and current teammate, Myles Gaskin. Tomorrow, fans can hear more from VanDerveer as she shares special moments from her Stanford career on “Pac-12 Perspective.”

 

●      Thursday, May 7

○      Pac-12 Playlist, presented by New York Life - 7 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. MT on Pac-12 Network and the Pac-12 Now app

■      Re-airing at 9 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. MT on Pac-12 regional channels

■      All of the interviews featured on the most recent episodes of “Pac-12 Playlist” are available on-demand on Pac-12.com or the Pac-12 Now app

 

All broadcasts are also available in HD via the Pac-12 Now app (for iOS, Android and Apple TV). For more information and to see a list of the multiple options to access Pac-12 Networks anywhere across the United States, please visit GetPac12Networks.com.

 

All Pac-12 Networks coverage can be seen on Pac-12 Network, the Pac-12 Now app (for iOS, Android and Apple TV) or the appropriate regional channel. Pac-12 Networks subscribers have access to all seven HD channels via the Pac-12 Now app. More information on the multiple options to access and receive Pac-12 Networks anywhere in the United States is available at GetPac12Networks.com. Coverage of the 2019-20 season for all Pac-12 sports can also be followed all year long across the Pac-12 and Pac-12 Networks’ digital and social media channels on Pac-12.com, Twitter (@Pac12Network and @Pac12), Facebook (facebook.com/Pac12Conference), Instagram (@Pac12Conference), Snapchat (@pac12conference) and Pac-12 Networks’ YouTube channel.