Vilnius, Soviet Union - July 21-August 5, 1979

With the idea of evaluating players under consideration for the 1980 USA Olympic Team, the United States accepted an inviatation to take part in the 1979 Spartakiade competition, which was promoted as the 'Dress Rehersal for the 1980 Olympic Games.'

1979 USA Spartakiade Team 1979 USA RESULTS (3-3) Ukraine 89 USA 82 USA 93 Leningrad 90 Latvia 109 USA 87 Russia 118 USA 88 USA 86 France 51 USA 64 Czechoslovakia 59 1979 SPARTAKIADE FINAL STANDINGS 1. Latvia (6-0 2. Lithuania 7. United States

Held every four years since 1956, Spartakiade was an international, multi-sport event hosted by the Soviet Union and its neighboring satellite countries. Usually Spartakiade competitors were limited to Soviet states, but with a need for test events before hosting the Olympics, the USSR invited athletes from beyond the iron curtin to participate as well.

While the majority of Spartakiade events took place in Moscow, basketball competition was held in Vilnius, Soviet Union. The USA squad was coached by Drake University mentor Carole Baumgarten and featured 1976 Olympian Ann Meyers as well as future 1980 and 1984 Olympians Denise Curry, Cindy Noble and Lynette Woodard, along with the 1980 team's Tara Heiss.

Facing an extremely competitive tournament field, the USA opened Spartakiade on the short end of an 89-82 decision with Ukraine. Regrouping after the loss the U.S. pulled out a narrow 93-90 win over Leningrad. Falling in its next game against eventual gold medalist Latvia, 109-87, the loss dropped the USA to the consolation bracket and out of medal contention.

Russia's offense was unstoppable and the USA continigent was drubbed 118-87. Standing 1-3, the USA bounced back and finished the tournament with back-to-back wins as the Americans upended France 86-51 and Czechoslovakia 64-59. Its late tournament surge provided the United States' with an even 3-3 record and a seventh-place finish within the 12-team field.

Led by 24 points from future Hall of Famer and USSR Olympian 7-2 Ulyana Semyonova, Lativa claimed the gold medal by defeating Lithuania 53-49.

1979 USA Women's Spartakiade Cumulative Statistics