The WNBA honors the women of Team USA

The WNBA honored the women of Team USA and handed out two scholarships at its seventh annual “Inspiring Women” luncheon at Chelsea Piers in New York City. ESPN anchor Cindy Brunson emceed the event and announced that the network will televise this year’s WNBA Draft Lottery on Wednesday, September 26 at 6 p.m. ET on” SportsCenter.”

Women won 58 of the U.S.’s 104 medals at the London Games. Female Olympians from multiple sports attended the luncheon including gold medalists 17-year-old Claressa Shields (boxing), Betsey Armstrong (water polo), Kayla Harrison (Judo), Taylor Ritzel (rowing) and Venus Williams (doubles tennis). Tamika Catchings represented USA basketball women. The senior national team won a fifth straight gold medal.

“We honored women who remind us that achievement is not just about trophies and medals; it is, at its core about using one’s gifts to make a positive impact on the world,” said WNBA President Laurel J. Richie.

Other attendees included members of the New York Liberty and the league’s 2012 No. 1 draft pick, Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks).

Ariana Ochoa Camacho (New York, N.Y.) and Essence Scott (Waterbury, Conn.) were selected by the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, respectively, as recipients of the Inspiring Women Gold Standard Scholarship Award. Each student received a $15,000 scholarship. Ochoa Camacho is a Ph.D. student at New York University. Scott is a senior at Virginia State University majoring in psychology.

Basketball legend and Hall of Famer Teresa Edwards received the Boost Mobile Pioneer Award.

Great to see 5x Olympic Champion Teresa Edwards at the @wnba Inspiring Women’s Luncheon! twitter.com/ESPNCindyB/sta…

— Cindy Brunson (@ESPNCindyB) September 10, 2012