Michigan Women's Hoops Team Taking European Trip

News about this has been coming out in bits and pieces for some time, but today the trip was officially announced:  Wolverines to Take Trip to France and Italy in August

The University of Michigan women's basketball team will take a foreign trip to France and Italy in August (19-29), head coach Kim Barnes Arico announced on Wednesday (July 17).

"We are very excited to have the opportunity to take a foreign trip," Barnes Arico said. "It is a great chance for our team to get a head start on the upcoming season while seeing a completely different part of the world. The extra practice time, especially with four newcomers and four players coming off of knee injuries, will be invaluable for our young team. "

"We are grateful for the generosity of Nancy Lohr, who donated the money for us to take this trip. As we continue to build our program, supporters like Nancy are integral to our success."

The Wolverines will depart Ann Arbor on Aug. 19, flying overnight to Paris. U-M will participate in three games across the pond, playing in Paris (Aug. 23), Lake Como (Aug. 24) and Rome (Aug. 27). Michigan's tour of Western Europe will include stops in Paris, the south of France, Lake Como, Florence and Rome before traveling back to Ann Arbor on Aug. 29.

With five seniors having graduated and three players transferring out either midseason or at season's end, the team has only two players coming back who played meaningful minutes in 2012-13. So the extra practice time should be significant, as will the opportunity for team bonding. The men's program took a similar trip with a young team in August 2010, and that trip helped propel that team to a successful season.