Bucharest, Romania • July 15-29, 1981

With the USA's capturing of its first World University Games gold medal in two years prior, 1981 USA head coach Kay Yow and the rest of her American team traveled to Bucharest, Bulgaria, optimistic of making it two in a row. The U.S. team, however, would finish with the silver medal and a 6-1 record.

The U.S.,began the 1981 Games with an easy 68-49 opening round win over Finland in a game that saw 5'10' LaTaunya Pollard score 24 points. Despite trailing 37-36 at halftime, the U.S. rallied to claim a 76-74 victory over China in a game that went down to the wire. UCLA 6'1' standout Denise Curry came to the aid of the U.S. squad, scoring 26 points, while Anne Donovan and Trudi Lacey added 15 and 12 points, respectively.

Behind 6'8', 1980 U.S. Olympian Donovan's 22 points and 18 more from Pollard, the U.S. defeated Poland 75-63 to improve its record to an unblemished 3-0. Next meeting Czechoslovakia, Curry exploded for 30 points and the United States outscored its opponents 44-27 in the second half to claim an impressive 86-67 victory.

Canada led the U.S. at half 39-38, and the two squads battled evenly for much of their game, but eventually the U.S. eked out 79-76 win, as Curry scored 22 and Pollard added 19 to aid the U.S. to the victory.

Facing host Romania and in need of a win to advance to the gold medal game, the U.S. led by a single point at the intermission, 34-33. Outscoring Romania 41-31 in the second stanza, the U.S. captured a 75-64 win and Carol Menken led the U.S. offense with 23 points.

Meeting the also undefeated Soviet Union women in the gold medal game, the Soviets took control early, led 55-39 at the half and sailed on to record the 98-79 victory and the gold. Pollard, Donovan and Curry paced the U.S. scoring attack with 13, 12 and 10 points, respectively.

The Americans were led in scoring by Curry's 18.3 ppg., while Pollard contributed 15.1 ppg., and Donovan added 11.4 ppg. and a team high 6.7 rpg. Curry finished the competition ranked as the Games' eighth leading scorer, while Pollard ranked 18th.