Sao Paulo, Brazil • June 26 - July 4, 1993

Led by Stanford University head coach Tara VanDerveer, the 1993 USA World Championship Qualifying Team returned from Sao Paulo, Brazil, with the gold medal and a 6-1 slate. The top seven scorers on the squad eventually were named to the 1994 USA World Championship Team, also coached by VanDerveer, including Lisa Leslie (18.4 ppg.), Ruthie Bolton (14.3 ppg.), Jennifer Azzi (11.1 ppg.), Katy Steding (10.1 ppg.), Carla McGhee (8.4 ppg.), Dena Head (6.3 ppg.) and Dawn Staley (5.6 ppg.).

Opening against Canada on June 26, the USA received 23 points from Leslie and 18 from Bolton in an 82-74 win.

The U.S. dismantled Chile 121-41 on June 27 as Azzi's 30 points off the bench led the USA's offensive clinic that saw all 12 players score, including six in double digits.

Meeting up with Mexico to close preliminary play, the USA overpowered its opponent in a 97-54 victory on June 28. This time it was Bolton's 19 points off the bench that paced the attack, while Leslie added 16 as again everyone scored, five in double digits.

In the semifinal round the USA upended Cuba 89-78 behind 21 points from Leslie and 19 from Azzi on June 30.

Trailing Canada by five points at halftime, 38-33, the USA rallied in the second half to record a 76-69 win in a balanced effort led by Steding's 17 points on July 1. McGhee and Leslie also notched double-digit scores with 15 and 11 points, respectively.

In its final semifinal round contest on July 2 the U.S. suffered its first and only loss of the tournament, a 99-92 overtime Brazilian victory, despite 19 points from Leslie, 16 from Bolton, 15 from Steding and 10 from Staley.

However, with Brazil standing at 6-0 and the USA holding a 5-1 record, the gold medal game two nights later would give the United States a chance to avenge the loss.

Not wanting to celebrate the Fourth of July with anything less than gold, behind 20 first-half points from Leslie, the United States established control early and held on to capture the gold medal with a decisive 106-92 win over host Brazil.

Leslie capped the contest with 24 points, while the USA's win was bolstered by 23 from Bolton, McCray and Steding each netted 11 and McGhee notched a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

McGhee and Leslie were the USA's top rebounders, averaging 7.9 rpg. and 6.6 rpg., respectively, while Staley passed off 4.9 apg. Nabbing 21 steals in all, Bolton led the pack with 3.0 spg., and Leslie was credited with 2.7 spg.

1993 USA WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING TEAM ROSTER

1993 USA WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING TEAM CUMULATIVE STATISTICS