Basketball ace Kim Butler turned her back on the WNBA to boost her dream of representing GB at the 2012 Olympics.

Blonde bombshell Butler, 28, was born in the USA to British parents and grew up near Seattle.

She went to college in America and has had chances to play professionally in her adopted homeland.

But British-passport holder Butler's main ambition is to represent GB at the London games.

And she deliberately opted to play in Europe with TTT Riga in Latvia to ensure she can play for GB during the close-season.

Butler explained: "The WNBA season is in the summer time which is when the national team stuff is.

"It is either or and obviously the 2012 Olympics are in London so that is my goal to make it to there.

"I want to play at the highest level in Europe for the two seasons before that to get experience so I will be ready for the Olympics."

Butler has signed for Riga this season in the Euro League after previously playing for both Panionios and Panathinaikos in Greece, Israeli side Anda Ramat Hasharon, Slovakian outfit Kosice and Spanish side San Jose Leon.

The 6ft 1in power forward starts her season this week with her new club against Hungarian side Pecs after leaving Panionios.

And Butler has big ambitions this term for club and country ahead of next summer's European Championships for GB.

"It is always a great experience playing in the Euro League," she added.

"This will be my fifth season playing in Europe, it should be a good one."

Butler made her debut for GB in 2007 against the Netherlands and now has 37 caps.

She was a key performer for coach Tom Maher women's team who this August qualified for EuroBasket for the first time by winning their group.

Butler averaged 9.5 points and 5.5 rebounds during 25 minutes per game over the campaign.

GB are now awaiting news of the draw on December 11 for next year's tournament in Poland.

Butler said: "We are up and coming with GB.

"We had a great summer this year and hopefully we have turned some heads.

"We started in June and the games were in August so all the hard work paid off, that is something to appreciate.

"Those of us who are playing professionally don't earn nearly as much playing for your country so you don't do it for the money.

"But now we have the European Championships next summer and then the Olympics to look forward to.

"It is a great stepping stone but we don't want just to compete, we want to win some games."

Australian coach Maher has bags of experience after leading his native women's side Down Under in 2000 in the Olympics, New Zealand in 2004 and more recently the Chinese team in 2008.

Butler added: "He is very knowledgeable and he motivates us.

"He treats it like a professional club."