KeyArena will host international-class hoops May 12 when the the U.S. women’s national team plays China in a pre-Olympics exhibition game.
The 7:30 p.m. game is part of a three-day camp the women’s team added to its schedule. The Japan national team will also scrimmage the U.S. at 10 a.m. May 13.
“I’m looking forward to it because it’ll be the first time that the entire team will be together,” Geno Auriemma, 2009-12 USA National Team and University of Connecticut head coach, said in a release by USA Basketball. “It’s been kind of difficult with everybody’s schedules to have many training camps.
“The fans will get a big kick out of seeing the best players in the world play together, seeing the USA National Team. You add two other national teams, Japan and China and I think it’s going to be a great weekend of basketball.
“I think Seattle is a perfect place for this. They’ve shown that they can do a great job supporting and promoting women’s basketball.”
China won the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship gold medal, and Japan won bronze. The USA and China have played each other 26 times in various major tournaments since 1977, with the U.S. owning a 25-1 record over China. The lone loss was in 1993 at the World University Games, when China edged the USA 75-73.
Storm star Sue Bird, who will play in her third Olympics in London in July, is a member of the team, as is former Storm teammate Swin Cash, now with the Chicago Sky. Maya Moore (Minnesota), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix), and Candace Parker (Los Angeles) are among the WNBA stars expected to participate.
Tickets for the USA-China game will go on sale Tuesday at www.stormbasketball.com or ticketmaster.com, any Ticketmaster outlet, or by calling 206-217-9622 or 1-877- 9622-849. Group tickets are available by calling 206-217-9622.
