BAKERSFIELD, CA—In a season defined by heart with new Head Coach Grant Bingham, Bakersfield College women's basketball made history by hosting their first-ever Play4Kay game. They walked away with national recognition for their efforts in the fight against cancer.

BC was named the National Junior College/Community College Play4Kay Award Winner, raising $3,100, the most of any junior college or community college in the country. This prestigious honor marks Bakersfield College's debut as a national fundraising leader in the Play4Kay movement, an initiative of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

Play4Kay is more than a basketball game — it's a mission. Named in honor of the late North Carolina State women's basketball coach Kay Yow, the event brings together the basketball community to raise awareness and funds for women's cancer research and care. As the Kay Yow Cancer Fund reminds us, "Every minute in the US, a woman is diagnosed with cancer, that's one mother, one daughter, one wife." "To see our Bakersfield community, along with former and current players and coaches, get behind such an amazing cause was truly inspiring," said BC Head Coach Grant Bingham. "We are grateful to play a small part in supporting the mission of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund to help fight against all cancers affecting women."

Bakersfield College joins a legacy of passionate Play4Kay supporters, following in the footsteps of Taft College's Romeo Lagmay, a six-time winner and fellow 3C2A rival. Together, Bakersfield and Taft led the Play4Kay activation in the CCCAA this year, rallying more than 25 schools across the league to join the cause.

Through the collective efforts of these programs, Play4Kay proved that athletics can be a powerful force for good, far beyond the scoreboard. The sentiment behind the campaign rang true at Bakersfield College: "We truly are louder, stronger, and unstoppable together."

The $3,100 raised by the Renegades will help the Kay Yow Cancer Fund award grants for life-saving cancer research and provide access to quality care for under-resourced women. This ensures that every dollar helps move the needle toward one goal: ending cancer.

BC's first Play4Kay game wasn't just a win in spirit; it was a powerful example of what happens when community, purpose, and sport unite.