NEW YORK -- During the month of June, the WNBA will celebrate the special connection between dads and daughters by inviting them to experience female athleticism at its best.

From special ticket promotions to themed in-arena events, the WNBA Dads & Daughters program will encourage dads and daughters to spend quality time together while forging a lasting bond through the game of basketball.

"We routinely hear from fathers who view our players as excellent role models and the WNBA as a vehicle for change that produces unique opportunities," said WNBA President Donna Orender.

"As a league that believes in women and all those who support women, we can't think of a better way to honor the close relationships shared between daughters and their fathers then by providing a program that is both entertaining and educational."

As part of the program, new television spots produced by NBA Entertainment, feature NBA Stars Ray Allen and Chauncey Billups attending WNBA games with their daughters while discussing the importance of spending quality time together.

The spots, which debuted during the telecast of the 2007 NBA All-Star Game, will run nationally throughout the WNBA season on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, NBA TV and in-market locally.

In addition, the league will team-up with the national nonprofit Dads & Daughters , to provide content, tips and information along with useful tools on how dads and daughters can strengthen their communication and interaction while having fun at the same time on www.wnba.com  and www.dadsanddaughters.org .

Fans will also have the opportunity to create user profiles and share stories about their dads or daughters on the league's website, which launched on Friday, June 1.

"Dads & Daughters is proud to partner with the WNBA because we both recognize the inspiration that fabulous women athletes provide to all of our daughters," said Joe Kelly, President, Dads & Daugthers.

"Fathers and stepfathers are key to getting their daughters involved in sports and physical activity, and shared sports experiences -- as participants or spectators -- help build father-daughter bonds. Dads & Daughters raises awareness of how crucial dads are to their daughters' well-being, and the WNBA is a powerful partner in spreading that message."

The program tips off on Sunday when the New York Liberty takes on the Phoenix Mercury in New York City at Madison Square Garden. Prior to the game, the WNBA will host a special reception where several prominent faces from the business, entertainment and sports worlds will be on-hand with their dads and daughters to celebrate the league's new platform.

WNBA teams from across the league will host their own events and offer exciting promotions, special premiums, collectable items, basketball clinics, player appearances and in-arena contests.

NOTE: For more information on team activities, please visit www.wnba.com   or www.dadsanddaughters.org .