For Immediate Release
September 7, 2022
Media Contact: Keegan Bales, keegan@congwomensoftball.org

One Week Out: Congressional Women’s Softball Game is September 14

Press must RSVP by noon on game day by emailing keegan@congwomensoftball.org


WASHINGTON, DC – The fourteenth annual Congressional Women’s Softball Game (CWSG) will be held Wednesday, September 14, 2022 at Watkins Recreation Center on Capitol Hill.

The annual event benefits the Young Survival Coalition (YSC), a non-profit dedicated to the critical issues unique to young adults diagnosed with breast cancer. Every year a bipartisan team of women members of Congress competes against a group of female journalists from the DC press corps to raise money for YSC and awareness about the prevalence of breast cancer and importance of screening for adults under 40 years old. CWSG has previously raised $2.1 million for YSC, including a record $509,000 in 2021.

"I am thrilled to take the field again and strike out cancer in young women," said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who co-founded the game after she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 41. "Education and outreach are critical for women 45 and younger. This annual game is a fun, competitive way to raise awareness and vital funds for YSC. My community of support was crucial as I fought cancer, and YSC's work, along with our annual softball game, fosters that community to help young people face the tough personal struggles that come with breast cancer.”

“As fans know, we have fun playing this game each year, and we hope they enjoy watching it,” said Gretchen Frazee, a producer at PBS NewsHour and co-captain of the press team, the Bad News Babes. “But the real reason we play is because so many of us have loved ones who have been touched by cancer. If we can make a small difference by raising awareness about early detection and treatment, that makes all the work that goes into this event worth it. In the end, this game is about the power we can have when we come together for a common cause. We’re just fortunate to be a part of it.”

Covid-19 created major fundraising challenges for YSC, which was forced to cancel several major fundraising events. The demand for YSC’s services, however, only intensified during the pandemic as many patients dealt with a range of new challenges, from isolation to difficulty accessing care. Thanks to our sponsors, the 2022 game has already raised just over a half million dollars. See a list of our sponsors here.

The Bad News Babes have been on a winning streak since 2016, but the Congress team has been fiercely practicing, and this year’s game is shaping up to be an epic showdown. The full rosters can be viewed here.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here or at the field on game day. The main gate for Watkins Recreation Center is located at 13th and D Street SE and will open at 5:30 PM ET. The game starts at 7:00 PM ET. The closest metro stations are Eastern Market and Potomac Avenue, which are accessible on the Blue, Orange and Silver Lines.

For more information, visit: https://www.congwomensoftball.org.

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