By Oscar Dixon
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — WNBA All-Star Becky Hammon will play for Russia at the Beijing Olympics.
Hammon said Tuesday in a phone interview that she signed with the Russian national team Monday, about two weeks after getting her Russian passport.
The 31-year-old point guard for San Antonio Silver Stars also plays professionally in Russia. But she is not among the pool of 29 U.S. players hoping to make the 12-player Olympic roster.
“I’m going where they really want me and where I have an opportunity to win a medal,†said Hammon, a nine-year WNBA veteran.
The South Dakota native also signed a three-year extension with the Russian pro team CSKA.
She said she began the passport application process last year — her first with CSKA. Many WNBA stars who play overseas have a second passport — Diana Taurasi has an Italian passport; Sue Bird has an Israeli one — so they’re not counted as Americans on the team’s roster.
The 170-centimeter tall Hammon averaged 18.8 points and 5.0 assists last season for the Silver Stars.
She said she will head to Russia in late July after the WNBA shuts its season down for the Olympics. The U.S. and Russia may not meet during the Olympics, but the teams play Aug. 4 in the FIBA Diamond Ball Tournament, a tuneup for Beijing.
http://www.sptimes.ru/story/25663
