The Pink Zone is coming back to the Bryce Jordan Center, folks.

Penn State women’s basketball will play its annual Pink Zone game on Sunday, February 5, against No. 6 Iowa. The game helps support Pennsylvania Pink Zone, which fundraises for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and other charities that support cancer patients.

Since 2007, the Pink Zone has partnered with the Lady Lions to fundraise for cancer patients and honor cancer survivors. Each year, survivors are honored on the court at halftime.

In the 16 games that Penn State has hosted the Pink Zone, the group has raised over $2 million to support cancer patients.

The Lady Lions are also participating in the Play4Kay National Free Throw Challenge, which raises money for Kay Yow Cancer Fund. For each free throw made by the Lady Lions in the month of February, money pledged by donors will go to the fund. The Lady Lions raised just over $800 in the 2022 challenge.

The Lady Lions wear pink uniforms for the Pink Zone game, while the rest of the Bryce Jordan Center is filled with pink clothing and accessories. Playing in the game is important for those on the Lady Lions — it’s not just a distraction from basketball, but a privilege to represent something bigger than the game.

Sophomore Ali Brigham is one such player to don the white and pink, understanding that it’s a chance for her team to do something larger than basketball.

“That’s why we do what we do — for something bigger than us,” Brigham said. “We play for a university and we play for something bigger than that. It’s really special to get to step out there and put that jersey on to represent a lot of other women.”

The 2023 Pink Zone game will be the fourth during head coach Carolyn Kieger’s tenure at Penn State. It’s been a tradition that she appreciated before her time at Penn State and is still something that she recognizes as an important practice in the team and its community.

“[It’s] our players’ favorite game of the year, especially with what the Pink Zone has been able to do for this community,” Kieger said. “Pink Zone is very special to our hearts, and it always is, so our players are really looking forward to this.”