espnW Builds on Themes from Acclaimed Nine for IX Series to Launch Innovative Knowledge Center

In concert with the debut of espnW's and ESPN Films' Nine for IX Shorts, espnW launched the Nine for IX Knowledge Center, a resource center for college administrators, professors and student-athletes that examines the powerful lessons in each of the Nine for IX series films released last summer. The site, located on espnW.com, provides discussion guides, posters and community forums for each of the films, as well as free copies of the Nine for IX box set. Nine for IX, nine documentaries about women, directed by women, premiered June 18, 2013, as part of ESPN's celebration of the 40th anniversary of Title IX. Visit the Knowledge Center: www.espnW.com/KnowledgeCenter.

"espnW continues to innovate with the creation of the Nine for IX Knowledge Center, which will facilitate thoughtful, in-depth conversations about the important themes in our films," said Laura Gentile, vice president, espnW. "We believe the Knowledge Center is an important tool for fans, educators, coaches and student-athletes."

The unique discussion guides for each film were developed by espnW Advisory Panel member, Nicole M. LaVoi, Ph.D., the Associate Director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport at The University of Minnesota. The guides provide thought-provoking discussion topics such as gender equality, social class, sports media coverage, sexism, sports marketing, role models and race.

"The Knowledge Center was developed in collaboration with espnW to go beyond the entertainment value of the films and leverage the richness of the embedded lessons and messages they offer," said LaVoi. "The Nine for IX series provides educators and students a forum to explore and debate the hard-hitting topics that have, and are, affecting girls and women in sports."

Yesterday, espnW and ESPN Films debuted a new series of Nine for IX shorts on espnW.com. The short films are an extension of the feature-length, Emmy-nominated, Nine for IX series focused on capturing fascinating stories of women in sports told through the lens of female filmmakers. Among those profiled are MMA pioneer Ronda Rousey, WNBA star Brittney Griner, golf champion Jan Stephenson, and the first all-women America's Cup team. The participating filmmakers are Melissa Johnson, Nikki Reed, Tina Carbone, Jessica Wolfson and the Mundo Sisters.

About espnW

espnW serves women who love sports. espnW.com provides an engaging environment that offers total access to female athletes and the sports they play, takes fans inside the biggest events, and shares a unique point of view on the sports stories that matter most to women. Founded in July 2010, espnW lives across television, films, events, digital and social platforms. The annual espnW: Women + Sports Summit is the leading event of its kind in the sports industry. espnW Media Kit

About Nine for IX

ESPN Films and espnW present Nine for IX, executive produced by Robin Roberts and Jane Rosenthal, featuring nine documentary films about women in sports directed by Oscar-nominated, Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning female filmmakers. Inspired by the 40th anniversary of Title IX, the series stories included Venus Williams fight for equal pay at Wimbledon, the largely unknown history of Katarina Witt and her link with East Germany's secret police, an intimate look at Pat Summitt - college sports' most successful coach ever, and the business of sex in the marketing of female athletes. For more information and summaries visit: Nine for IX Media Kit