The St. Louis Surge, a women’s semiprofessional basketball team, will play its home games at UMSL in 2013. (RTS Sport Photography/Insight2Incite Magazine photo-Derrick Jackson)

For the St. Louis Surge’s 2013 season, the women’s semiprofessional basketball team will call the University of Missouri–St. Louis home. The Surge will kick off its season with a home opener, taking on the Atlanta Tarheels. The game will begin at 7:05 p.m. May 4 in the Mark Twain Athletic & Fitness Center at UMSL.

Kristin Folkl, Neil Ivy and Jackie Joyner-Kersee – all pioneers in women’s sports – will be honored during half time. The honorees will receive the St. Louis Surge Power House Legend Award.

The St. Louis Surge is a member of the Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League, a semiprofesisonal woman’s league that consists of 50 member teams from major cities across the U.S. The team will serve as mentors and foster a culture of sportsmanship, teamwork, excellence service and community involvement. The team’s goal is to develop leaders and prepare the players for possible transition to the Women’s National Basketball Association.

“The St. Louis Surge will set the standard for women’s basketball not only at a competitive level, but as role models in the community,” said Khalia Collier, the team’s owner and general manager. “The Surge will make our mark in St. Louis and grown women’s sports in St. Louis.”

Doors for the May 4 game will open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5-$8 and can be purchased at the door. Tickets are free for children 5 and under and for those who attend in a team uniform or jersey. Season tickets are available for $49.99.

Visit the St. Louis Surge website to learn more about the team and its upcoming games.