When the U.S. women’s national basketball team competes in the 2012 Olympics in London, there will be many Connecticut connections, now add Hartford to the list. The XL Center will be the site two exhibition games.
UConn’s Geno Auriemma is the head coach of USA Basketball national women's team, which includes seven former University of Connecticut players, and the team will host Australia and Spain at the XL Center on Sept. 10 and 12.
This is a final tune-up before the World Championships in the Czech Republic.
The 12-member U.S. team for this fall's world championships will be picked from the team that plays in Hartford and the winner of the world tournament earns an automatic berth to the 2012 Olympics.
Former UConn players with hopes of being picked include: Diana Taurasi, now a Mercury guard; Sue Bird and Swin Cash, now of the Seattle Storm; Tina Charles, Renee Montgomery and Asjha Jones, all of the Connecticut Sun; and Maya More.
Another player with a local connection is Kara Lawson, who went to Tennessee but now plays for the Connecticut Sun.
