USA Basketball Lands Wireless Partner

While USA Basketball will be the likely favorite in London next Summer, it has aligned with an underdog of sorts. Scrappy wireless company, MetroPCS, has pulled off a mild sponsorship upset in the fiercely contested wireless category by today becoming the official wireless partner of USA Basketball ahead of bigger rivals like Verizon and AT&T. In addition to serving as an official partner of the USA Basketball men's and women's national teams in 2012, the wireless carrier will activate the partnership by participating in a USA Basketball nationwide mobile tour.

"We're tremendously excited to partner with USA Basketball in the lead-up to next summer, which marks the 20th anniversary of the Dream Team. USA Basketball has a expansive and rich history, and we look forward to supporting both teams' quest to achieve success," said Tom Keys, president and COO of MetroPCS. "This partnership and the corresponding tour enable us to connect with our customers and their communities with exceptional experiences that feed into their passions and lifestyles."

"MetroPCS is an exciting wireless brand that will play an important part as our teams connect with fans next summer," said USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo. "As we begin our journey, MetroPCS will help bring the values of our basketball program - hard work, dedication and a commitment to excellence - to life for fans as part of this nationwide basketball tour."

In addition to the national tour and live fan experiences, the partnership also includes courtside signage and in-game exposure during nationally televised USA Basketball men's and women's games, along with inclusion in USA Basketball promotional materials. #dealstag