WNBA announces preseason game in Monterrey, Mexico
March 30, 2004 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release
MONTERREY, March 30 â The WNBA announced today that the Detroit Shock and San Antonio Silver Stars will participate in the first-ever WNBA game hosted outside the United States, as the teams square off at Arena de Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico on May 6 at 8 p.m. CT.
"The timing of this game, our first at an international venue, couldn't be any better, as we prepare for a season where the best women's basketball players in the world will compete in both the WNBA and the Summer Olympic Games in Greece, " said WNBA President Val Ackerman. "Even though WNBA games are broadcast to more than 180 countries around the globe, there's nothing like the experience of seeing our athletes up close and in person in a live setting. Basketball fans in Mexico are in for a treat."
"We are proud that the WNBA has selected the city of Monterrey, Mexico, to host the first ever international WNBA game," said Guillermo Salinas, President of Dataflux, the company promoting the historic game. "We are looking forward to an exciting and successful match-up between the World Champion Detroit Shock and the San Antonio Silver Stars at the state-of-the-art Monterrey Arena."
"This reaffirms the commitment of the NBA and WNBA to continue developing the game of basketball in Mexico," said Luis Morales, Managing Director, NBA Mexico. "The fans in Mexico wanted to see the best female players in the world and the match-up between the Detroit Shock and San Antonio Silver Stars will give thousands of WNBA fans the opportunity to experience it live at the Arena de Monterrey."
The Shock won the 2003 WNBA Championship after finishing with the worst record in the league in 2002. In doing so, Detroit completed the first-ever, worst-to-first turnaround in professional sports history. Shock Head Coach Bill Laimbeer was rewarded with the 2003 WNBA Coach of the Year award, while Cheryl Ford took home Rookie of the Year honors, Ruth Riley was named Finals MVP, and Ford, Swin Cash and Deanna Nolan each made the All-WNBA, Second Team.
The Silver Stars completed their first season of competition in San Antonio in 2003 after six seasons in Utah. San Antonio currently boasts four current and former All-Starsâ Marie Ferdinand, Adrienne Goodson, Margo Dydek and Shannon Johnson â on its roster.
The international flavor of the WNBA preseason continues as the Chinese National team travels to the United States for a three-game tour featuring games against the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday, May 8 at 7 p.m. ET, the Detroit Shock on Monday, May 17 at 7:30 p.m. ET, and the Charlotte Sting at the Bobcats Basketball Center on Tuesday, May 18 at 5:30 p.m ET.
The Houston Comets and Indiana Fever tip off the 2004 preseason on Tuesday, May 4 at 7 p.m. at Conseco Fieldhouse.
The WNBA preseason schedule is comprised of 21 games, with teams allowed to play up to four preseason games. WNBA team training camps open Sunday, April 25.
The WNBA Draft will be held Saturday, April 17 beginning at noon at the NBA Entertainment Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey. For the first time, ESPN will televise the first round of the draft, leading into its coverage of the 2004 NBA Playoffs. NBA TV, WNBA.com and ESPN.com will cover all three rounds, providing complete analysis and comprehensive information on all 13 teams' selections.
The WNBA will tip off its eighth season Thursday, May 20 with three Western Conference games featuring San Antonio against the Comets at the Toyota Center, the Sacramento Monarchs vs. the Phoenix Mercury at America West Arena and the Seattle Storm hosting the Minnesota Lynx at Key Arena.
The complete 2004 WNBA Preseason schedule follows. For more information on the WNBA, visit WNBA.com.
2004 WNBA PRESEASON SCHEDULE
Day Date Visiting Team Home Team Local Time Location
Tue. May 4 Houston @ Indiana 7:00 PM Conseco Fieldhouse
Wed. May 5 Sacramento @ Minnesota 7:00 PM The Pit â U. of New Mexico
Thu. May 6 Detroit @ San Antonio 8:00 PM Arena de Monterrey (Monterrey Mexico)
Fri. May 7 San Antonio @ Houston 7:30 PM Toyota Center
Sat. May 8 Seattle @ Phoenix 7:00 PM America West
Sat. May 8 Chinese Natl. Team @ Connecticut 7:00 PM Mohegan Sun Arena
Sat. May 8 New York @ Los Angeles 7:00 PM The Pyramid â Long Beach State Univ.
Sun. May 9 Charlotte @ Indiana 4:00 PM Hinkle Fieldhouse â Butler University
Mon. May 10 Sacramento @ Phoenix 7:00 PM America West
Tue. May 11 Detroit @ Minnesota 11:00 AM Target Center
Tue. May 11 Indiana @ Washington 7:00 PM MCI Center
Tue. May 11 Connecticut @ Houston 7:30 PM Toyota Center
Thu. May 13 Los Angeles @ Connecticut 7:00 PM Mohegan Sun Arena
Fri. May 14 Washington @ Charlotte 7:00 PM Bobcats Basketball Center
Fri. May 14 Seattle @ Sacramento 7:30 PM Arco Arena
Sat. May 15 Los Angeles @ New York 4:00 PM Madison Square Garden
Sat. May 15 Minnesota @ Detroit 7:00 PM Petersen Events Center â U. of Pittsburgh
Sat. May 15 Houston @ San Antonio 7:00 PM SBC Center
Mon. May 17 Chinese Natl. Team @ Detroit 7:30 PM The Palace of Auburn Hills
Tue. May 18 Phoenix @ Seattle 7:00 PM Key Arena
Tue. May 18 Chinese Natl. Team @ Charlotte 5:30 PM Bobcats Basketball Center
• Discuss this story on the Women's National Basketball Association message board...
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from March 30, 2004
- Mystics add Ready to coaching staff - Washington Mystics
- Updates to Comets 2004 Preseason and Regular Season Away Schedules - Houston Comets
- WNBA announces preseason game in Monterrey, Mexico - WNBA
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
