September 05, 2007
In addition to a loaded regular-season slate, the Texas A&M women?â„¢s basketball team will take on the U.S. Women?â„¢s Senior National Team and Chinese National Team in exhibition play during the upcoming 2007-08 season.
One of eight top collegiate teams Team USA will face in an eight-game coast-to-coast tour, the Aggies will host the U.S. National Team on Sunday, Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. and Chinese National Team on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. Both exhibition contests will be played at Reed Arena.
Team USA?â„¢s college tour also includes dates at Maryland (Oct. 31), Connecticut (Nov. 2), defending national champion Tennessee (Nov. 4), Baylor (Nov. 6), Arizona State (Nov. 8), USC (Nov. 13) and Stanford (Nov. 15). Seven of the eight participating schools advanced to the NCAA Tournament and finished ranked among the top 25 in both national polls a year ago.
?This is a great tour that USA Basketball has put together,? U.S. Women?â„¢s Senior National Team head coach Anne Donovan said. ?We are going to be playing against some of the top programs in the country and it is going to be a great opportunity for us to work on team chemistry, cohesiveness and overall competitiveness. I think the most important thing is that this will be a rare chance for fans to see the USA Basketball Women?â„¢s National Team up close and in person. I am really excited about this tour and I know the fans at all of these schools will come out to support both teams. They will definitely enjoy watching the games.?
The 12-member U.S. squad will be comprised of members of the 2007-08 USA Basketball Women?â„¢s Senior National Team. The current 22-player roster includes eight Olympic gold medalists, five World Championship gold medalists and all 12 members of the 2006 USA World Championship Team. Meanwhile, the Chinese National Team ranks among the best in the world and boasts Sui Feifei and Miao Lijie of the WNBA?â„¢s Sacramento Monarchs.
Notable U.S. players include three-time Olympic gold medalist Sheryl Swoopes (Houston Comets), Katie Smith (Detroit Shock), Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Swin Cash (Detroit Shock), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), Tina Thompson (Houston Comets), DeLisha Milton-Jones (Washington Mystics), Taj McWilliams-Franklin (Los Angeles Sparks), Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Alana Beard (Washington Mystics), Cheryl Ford (Detroit Shock), Michelle Snow (Houston Comets), Jessica Davenport (New York Liberty), Katie Douglas (Connecticut Sun), Lindsey Harding (Minnesota Lynx), Deanna Nolan (Detroit Shock), Cappie Pondexter (Phoenix Mercury) and Lindsay Whalen (Connecticut Sun).
2007-08 TEXAS A&M WOMEN?â„¢S BASKETBALL EXHIBITION SCHEDULE
Saturday, Nov. 3 - CHINESE NATIONAL TEAM (exh.) - 7 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 11 - U.S. NATIONAL TEAM (exh.) - 6 p.m.