The jersey was unveiled during a special ceremony at the National Archives today. The ceremony followed a tour attend by players from four PWHPA teams who are in town for the Capitals PWHPA Showcase being hosted in Washington, D.C., March 4-5. During the tour, the group visited the "All American: The Power of Sports" exhibit that features a special celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, including the original Title IX document.
The jersey depicts several Washington, D.C., area landmarks and celebrates the history and foundations for change, both architectural and legal, around Title IX. With Title IX's 50th anniversary occurring this year, the jersey is an opportunity to celebrate the progress towards gender equity, women in hockey and the opportunities Title IX has provided women in sports.
Themes reflected in the jersey include history, equity, place and location, architecture, foundation, change and perspective. Sass drew on her background in art and architecture to highlight historic architectural elements relevant to the formation of Title IX. The "W" crest and number on the back feature a collaged architectural path of Title IX through the buildings it has passed through or lives within. Reflective of Title's IX history in Washington, D.C., the Title IX roman numerals are woven into the "W" crest, and the overall goal with the design was not only to celebrate progress toward equity and advocate for the protection of the legislation, but also to encourage review of Title IX from new perspectives to provide equity for all.
Washington, D.C., landmarks reflected in the jersey include the National Mall, Capitol Building, White House, Supreme Court Building, Library of Congress and the National Archives Museum.
Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation will auction the jerseys and provide a donation to the Women's Sports Foundation to help advance the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity in the DMV area. WSF is known as a preeminent protector and champion of Title IX. Since its inception in 1974, WSF has been fighting for gender equity in sport from grassroots to collegiate and professional levels through research, advocacy, community programming and a wide variety of collaborative partnerships, and has invested over $100 million in these impact efforts to expand access and opportunities for girls and women in sports.
The auction will also include the original acrylic on canvas painting Sass painted and used as reference for the jersey design, titled "Foundations For Change," by Sass, along with pucks featuring Sass's artwork autographed by Capitals players and will open on March 23 at noon and run through March 31 at 3 p.m.
Additional details on Women in Hockey Night, which is being celebrated in conjunction with the Capitals ALL CAPS ALL HER initiative, will be announced in mid-March. The ALL CAPS ALL HER platform aims to provide access to hockey and elevate the game for women and girls in the Washington, D.C., region, while recognizing and supporting female players, coaches, parents, advocates and leaders in the community.
Sass is an advocate for equity in STEM and sports, using her platform and artistic abilities through her art business, SASS STUDIO, to create change. She is a project manager and architectural designer, artist, AAAS If/Then STEM ambassador, PWHPA board member and former professional hockey goaltender. For more information, visit
https://www.kimberlysass.com/
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