USA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM NAMED AS NEW LEAGUE LAUNCHED

     Eleven women were named yesterday to play for the U.S.
Women's National Basketball Team, "a $3 million experience to win
gold at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics."  The team will train
together for a year rather than the traditional three months
(Debbie Becker, USA TODAY, 5/26).  The team will be sponsored by
Champion Products, and marketed by the NBA.  In Philadelphia,
Diane Pucin writes on the pressure facing the team:  "No gold
medal and this will be a failure.  The sponsors will probably
never come back for another try, and even with a gold medal,
there's no guarantee that a professional league will follow"
(PHILA. INQUIRER, 5/26).
     NEW LEAGUE:  "Another attempt at a women's professional
basketball league was launched" yesterday with the first full
season targeted for next year.  The Women's Major Basketball
League will be based in Nashville, and The Institute of
Professional Athletics will handle the initial stages of the
league's formation.  The WMBL plans exhibition games this fall
(AP/ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 5/26).