Dana Evans receives key to the City of Gary

Hometown basketball star Dana Evans received one of Gary’s highest honors Thursday, October 30, when Mayor Eddie D. Melton presented her with the Key to the City during a ceremony at West Side Leadership Academy, the school where her journey began.

The event drew hundreds of students, parents and residents who came to celebrate Evans, a two-time WNBA champion and proud Gary native. Mayor Melton praised her accomplishments on and off the court, calling her “the embodiment of the determination, discipline, and excellence that define the City of Gary.”

Evans, a 2017 West Side graduate, starred at the University of Louisville before joining the WNBA in 2021. That same year, she helped lead the Chicago Sky to a championship and later earned a second title with the Las Vegas Aces in 2025. Standing 5-foot-6, Evans has earned national respect for her speed, leadership and fearless play.

During her remarks, Evans encouraged young people to pursue their dreams despite obstacles. “If I can do it, coming from right here in Gary, you can too,” she said. “Never forget where you come from, and always come back to lift somebody else up.”

The city’s symbolic Key to the City acknowledges Evans’s achievements and her continuing commitment to her hometown. Throughout her professional career, she has remained active in mentoring youth athletes, hosting basketball clinics and supporting local programs that promote education and health.

GCSC Superintendent Dr. Yvonne Stokes and members of the Gary Community School Corporation joined the mayor in honoring Evans, noting that her success has inspired a new generation of student-athletes. A standing ovation filled the gymnasium as Evans accepted the framed key, smiling through tears.

“Dana represents the best of what Gary can produce,” Mayor Melton said. “She’s proof that greatness begins here.”