Moscow, Soviet Union • August 10-17, 1986

In 1986, the USA women's World Championship team earned the gold and cut down the 'nyets.' After a 108-88 rout of the Soviets in the finals, the USA celebrated by cutting down the net, a tradition that was not well received by the Russians.

Also not received well by the Soviets was the obvious end of one basketball dynasty and the beginning of another. In a game that the Soviets had dominated since the late 1950's, the USA took the upper hand by defeating the Soviet Union not once, but twice in the same summer. The first victory came at the Goodwill Games and the second was in the gold medal game of the prestigious World Championship.

The American squad opened competition with a 105-52 romp over Taipei, and followed that with an 89-61 win over Czechoslovakia. Hungary was the next U.S. victim as the USA rolled to a 78-63 win. The Americans closed-out preliminary pool play by defeating Australia, 76-50, and China 99-74. Throughout the preliminary play, 1986 USC graduate Cheryl Miller, and Georgia's Katrina McClain stole the show. Miller tallied team highs of 21 versus Australia and 22 against China, while McClain scored U.S. bests of 19 and 21 against the Czechs and Hungary.

While the USA cruised to the semifinals untouched, the Soviets did the same. It appeared the USA and USSR were destined for a rematch of the Goodwill Games final played only a month prior. The Soviets were paired against Czechoslovakia who they topped 78-67 to move into the finals. The U.S. squad, behind 24 points from McClain, handed Canada a lopsided 82-59 loss in a game that U.S. head coach Kay Yow termed 'the most physical game we've ever played.'

The stage for a rematch was set. The Soviets and U.S. both moved to the finals with perfect 6-0 records. The USSR wanted revenge while the U.S. desired proof that their Goodwill Games victory was no fluke. The USA opened with eight straight points and never looked back, recording a 108-88 victory. The U.S., outrunning the taller Soviet team, dominated play for most of the first half and led by 22 points, 45-23, with less than six minutes left to play in the opening half. The Soviets tightened their defense and by halftime had cut the U.S. lead to 13, 56-43.

The Americans outscored the Soviets 15-1 in a two-minute span midway through the second half, giving the U.S. what proved to be an insurmountable lead of 96-73. From there, the U.S. sailed to the gold medal with its 108-88 victory and another surprisingly easy win over the Soviets. The Americans hit 51 percent of their shots and almost doubled the taller Soviets' rebounds 48-26. All five starters for the U.S. team scored in double figures led by Miller's impressive 24 point and 15 rebound performance. Teresa Edwards added 17 points, Anne Donovan scored 16, Kamie Ethridge had 12, and McClain accounted for 11 points.

1986 USA WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM ROSTER

1986 USA WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM CUMULATIVE STATISTICS