St. Petersburg, Russia - August 2-7, 1994

The 1994 USA Women's Goodwill Games Team proved that three is a charm when it won its third consecutive Goodwill Games title in St. Petersburg, Russia. The United States, coached by Stanford University head mentor Tara VanDerveer, finished with a perfect 4-0 record, posted a 31.3 average margin of victory and extended its Goodwill Games win streak to 13 games.

1994 USA Women's Goodwill Games Team 1994 USA RESULTS (4-0) USA 92 Italy 37 USA 77 Russia 63 USA 105 China 73 USA 87 France 63 1994 GOODWILL GAMES FINAL STANDINGS 1. United States (4-0) 2. France (3-1) 3. China (2-2) 4. Russia (1-3) 5. Canada (1-2) 6. Italy (0-3)

After earning a bronze medal earlier in June at the World Championship in Australia and experiencing five roster changes, the USA Goodwill Games squad entered competition at St. Petersburg's Lenin Sport & Concert Complex as an underdog behind China, silver medalists at the 1994 FIBA World Championship. With all eyes fixed on China and its 6'8' center Zheng Hiaxia, the United States quietly but forcefully blazed a trail to the top of the Goodwill Games' six-team field to claim the gold.

The U.S. registered convincing wins each time it stepped on the court and sailed through the preliminary rounds by dismantling a young Italian squad 92-37 and overpowering a very physical Russian contingent 77-63.

The Americans' stellar performance was highlighted by a 105-73 semifinals victory over China. The U.S. used an up-tempo offense, led by 24 points from Southern California All-American Lisa Leslie and 21 points from Dawn Staley, to stop China. The USA neutralized Zheng, who was limited to only 18 points, almost seven points below her Goodwill Games scoring average (24.8 ppg.).

The USA and China played within four points of each other for the first 10 minutes of the game. Tactically, the Americans defensively kept the ball away from Zheng and offensively lured her into three personal fouls with more than 10 minutes remaining in the first half. By the midway buzzer, the U.S. had gained a nine-point advantage 53-44. With Zheng in foul trouble and eventually fouling out with 7:53 remaining, the U.S. offense came out running, outscoring China 52-39 in the second stanza and sailing to the 32-point victory.

With its toughest test successfully passed, the USA advanced to the gold medal game where it handed an 87-63 loss to an up-and-coming French squad making its first appearance in the Goodwill Games.

The USA and France played closely for almost the first five minutes of the game, but with 15:37 left in the half and the USA leading 7-6, the American offense exploded on a 23-4 run that consumed over 11 minutes and gave the U.S. a 30-10 lead with just over four minutes remaining in the half.

Leading 39-19 at the midway mark, the second stanza was more of the same for the USA as it was never challenged in the 24-point win. Sheryl Swoopes spurred the U.S. charge with 14 points, while Dawn Staley, Ruthie Bolton-Holifield and Shanda Berry each tossed in 11 points.

For her efforts in piloting the potent United States offense, starting point guard Staley was named the 1994 Goodwill Games Most Valuable Player. Staley finished the competition as the USA's assist leader with 5.8 apg., while accounting for 9.3 ppg. Leslie checked in as the Americans' leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker with averages of 18.0 ppg., 7.3 rpg. and 1.0 bpg.