Sao Paulo, Brazil • July 24 - August 6, 1983

Looking to repeat the gold medal effort of the 1979 USA team, the '83 American team came within one basket of recording a monumental upset of the Soviets and earning their second consecutive World Championship gold medal. Still, the U.S. finished a successful 6-2 and collected the silver medal.

In its opening game, the USA struggled before claiming a 101-91 overtime victory against a surprisingly strong team from China. Leading 41-39 at intermission, the U.S. trailed near the end of regulation and was only able to force overtime after Denise Curry sank both of her free throws with one second remaining to even the score at 84-all. The U.S. outscored China 17-7 in the overtime to take the 101-91 victory and Curry finished the night with 28 points. Behind 17 points and six steals from Lynette Woodard, the U.S. took it to Yugoslavia right from the opening tip. Leading 47-23 at halftime, the Americans sailed on to the 92-49 win, recording a U.S. record 25 steals in the process.

Meeting the Soviets in a major international competition for the first time since the 1976 Olympic Games, the resulting clash was another women's basketball classic. Starting strongly, the United States led 49-40 at the intermission, but the USSR squad rallied and after a last second U.S. shot failed to drop, the Soviets had pulled out a 85-84 victory. Cheryl Miller led the U.S. with 24 points and Woodard added 18. 7'2' Jullana Semenova led the USSR with 31 points.

As a result of that loss, if gold medal hopes were to remain alive then the Americans needed to win all of their remaining games. And the U.S. came within a last second basket of doing just that.

All 12 U.S. players scored in an 82-63 win over Poland, then the USA handed Brazil a 109-78 defeat as Miller and LaTaunya Pollard each scored 20 points. Woodard and Miller were credited with 22 and 19 points, respectively, in the USA's 82-66 win over South Korea, and despite leading by just two at halftime, the U.S. rolled in the second half and downed Bulgaria 99-77. Miller led the U.S. offense with 18 points.

Earning a birth in the finals and a rematch with its on-court nemesis, the Soviet Union, a win over the Soviet squad was all that stood between the U.S. and the gold medal.

As was the case in the first meeting, the USA played a solid first half and retired to the locker room leading 40-37. Both teams came out strong in the second half and the USA managed to hold onto a slim lead. With six minutes left the Soviets finally pulled ahead and with 1:13 to play held a 82-78 advantage over the Americans. The U.S. refused to die and with six seconds left tied the game 82-82. The USSR inbounded the ball to Elena Chausova who launched the game winning shot, earning the USSR an 84-82 victory and the gold medal. Miller led the USA's losing cause with 23 points, while Woodard added 14.

1983 USA WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM ROSTER

1983 USA WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM CUMULATIVE STATISTICS