Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death among women in the United States, and new projections indicate that nearly 6 in 10 U.S. women will have some form of cardiovascular disease by 2050, according to the American Heart Association. To help change that future, women’s college basketball coaches are joining together through the 2026 American Heart Association Go Red for Women Hearts on the Court Collective to raise awareness, educate women about their risks and encourage them to seek care and support.
Led by Louisiana State University women’s basketball Hall of Fame and NCAA championship head coach Kim Mulkey, the Collective brings together women’s college basketball coaches from across the country to raise the unique profile of women’s cardiovascular health. The coaches will use their voices and platforms throughout the season to reach fans, student-athletes, families and communities with lifesaving health information.
“Too many women still face gaps in awareness, diagnosis, treatment and lifesaving care for cardiovascular disease,” said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. “For more than two decades, Go Red for Women has encouraged women to listen to their bodies, understand their risks, seek care when something does not feel right and advocate for the care they deserve. By bringing trusted coaches and mentors into this effort, the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Hearts on the Court Collective can help deliver health and hope to more women everywhere, inspiring more women to understand their cardiovascular risk and build heart-healthy habits that can last a lifetime.”
Throughout the 2026-27 women’s college basketball season, members of the Collective will share health messages through social media and other team and community platforms. The messages will encourage women to take charge of their cardiovascular health, grounded in Life’s Essential 8 for Women, which includes knowing and managing key health numbers such as blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar; eating a healthy dietary pattern; moving more through regular physical activity; avoiding tobacco and nicotine; getting healthy sleep; and maintaining a healthy weight. The Collective will also call attention to how women’s cardiovascular health can be affected by risk factors and conditions in different life stages, such as adolescence, midlife, pregnancy and postpartum, perimenopause and menopause.
“The women in our lives give so much of themselves every day, and they deserve the knowledge and support to protect their health,” said Kim Mulkey, women’s basketball head coach at Louisiana State University and national chair of the Hearts on the Court Collective. “Coaches understand the value of preparation, teamwork and taking action before the pressure is on. By coming together again, this Collective can help women know their risks, make heart-healthy choices and speak up for the care they need. That is a message we want our student-athletes, fans and all women to carry well beyond the basketball season.”
The 2026-27 Hearts on the Court Collective includes coaches from universities such as Southern Methodist University, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Tennessee, UCLA, Baylor University, Iowa State University, Texas Tech University, the University of Southern California, the University of Georgia, Oklahoma State University, the University of Notre Dame, the University of Iowa, the University of Alabama, Louisiana State University, the University of Cincinnati, Ohio State University, Arizona State University, North Carolina State University, Indiana University, Boston College, the University of Florida and the University of Texas.
According to the American Heart Association, more than 80% of heart attacks and strokes are preventable. The Association’s Go Red for Women movement is committed to addressing gaps in cardiovascular health awareness and care while meeting the needs of women in every age, stage and season of life. Women can learn their risks, find health resources and take action at GoRedforWomen.org. Additional resources, including a photo graphic of the Collective, are available on the release link, and more information about cardiovascular disease can be found at heart.org.
