NEW YORK (AP) — Pat Summitt will receive the Maggie Dixon Courage award when she brings her Tennessee Lady Vols to the sixth annual Classic that honors the former Army coach.
Summitt surprised the sports world with her announcement in August that she had been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. She will begin her 38th season when the Lady Vols start practice on Wednesday.
Tennessee will face DePaul in the second game of the annual women’s basketball doubleheader at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 11. Six-foot-eight Brittney Griner and the Baylor Lady Bears will take on St. John’s in the opener.
Summitt is the fourth recipient of the award, joining Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer, former Army player Lt. Col. Kim Kawamoto and Cal’s Tierra Rogers.