Women's Basketball World, a rules, history, almanac, website

Women's Basketball World, The Rules, History and almanac of winners of major trophies. Plus some notes on the strategies inloved in the game, Written December 2006

Women's B Ball Page 1 links on the great subject

Basketball is a sport in which two teams of five players each try to score points on one another by throwing a ball through a hoop (the basket) under organized rules.
Points are scored by passing the ball through the basket from above; the team with more points at the end of the game wins. A regular jump shot inside the arch is worth two points, beyond the arch is three points, and a free throw is one point. The ball can be advanced on the court by bouncing it (dribbling) or passing it between teammates. Disruptive physical contact (foul) is not permitted and there are restrictions on how the ball can be handled
Through time, basketball has developed to involve common techniques of shooting, passing and dribbling, as well as players' positions, and offensive and defensive structures. While competitive basketball is carefully regulated, numerous variations of basketball have developed for casual play. Basketball is also a popular spectator sport. A biography of Lauren Jackson, with a list of the Winners of the Australian Women's Baketball League to 2006.
While competitive basketball is primarily an indoor sport, played on a basketball court, less regulated variations have become exceedingly popular as an outdoor sport among inner city groups.
In early December 1891, Dr. James Naismith, a Canadian physician of McGill University and minister on the faculty of a college for YMCA professionals (today, Springfield College) in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, sought a vigorous indoor game to keep his students occupied and at proper levels of fitness during the long New England winters. After rejecting other ideas as either too rough or poorly suited to walled-in gymnasiums, he modified a childhood game titled "Duck on a rock" and wrote the basic rules. He nailed a peach basket onto the 10-foot (3.05 m) elevated track. In contrast with modern basketball nets, this peach basket retained its bottom. Therefore balls scored into the basket had to be poked out with a long dowel each time. Biography of Lindsay Taylor
Naismith's new game is quite similar to the game of team handball, which had already been invented in the early 1890s.
Women's basketball began in 1892 at Smith College when Senda Berenson, a physical education teacher, modified Naismith's rules for women. The first official basketball game was played in the YMCA gymnasium on January 20, 1892 with nine players, on a court just half the size of a present-day National Basketball Association (NBA) court. "Basket ball", the name suggested by one of Naismith's students, was popular from the beginning.
Basketball's early adherents were dispatched to YMCAs throughout the United States, and it quickly spread through the USA and Canada. By 1896, it was well established at several women's colleges. While the YMCA was responsible for initially developing and spreading the game, within a decade it discouraged the new sport, as rough play and rowdy crowds began to detract from the YMCA's primary mission. However, other amateur sports clubs, colleges, and professional clubs quickly filled the void. In the years before World War I, the Amateur Athletic Union and the Intercollegiate Athletic Association (forerunner of the NCAA) vied for control over the rules for the game. A biography of Lisa Leslie, with a list of the winners of the WNBA to 2006.
Basketball was originally played with a soccer ball. The first balls made specifically for basketball were brown, and it was only in the late 1950s that Tony Hinkle, searching for a ball that would be more visible to players and spectators alike, introduced the orange ball that is now in common use.
Dribbling, the bouncing of the ball up and down while moving, was not part of the original game except for the "bounce pass" to teammates. Passing the ball was the primary means of ball movement. Dribbling was eventually introduced but limited by the asymmetric shape of early balls. Dribbling only became a major part of the game around the 1950s as manufacturing improved the ball shape. A Biography Tamika Catchings
Basketball, netball, volleyball, and lacrosse are the only ball games which have been identified as being invented by North Americans. Other ball games, such as baseball and Canadian football, have Commonwealth of Nations, European, Asian or African connections.
Women's basketball began in 1892 at Smith College when Senda Berenson, a physical education teacher, modified Naismith's rules for women. The first official basketball game was played in the YMCA gymnasium on January 20, 1892 with nine players, on a court just half the size of a present-day National Basketball Association (NBA) court. "Basket ball", the name suggested by one of Naismith's students, was popular from the beginning.
Basketball's early adherents were dispatched to YMCAs throughout the United States, and it quickly spread through the USA and Canada. By 1896, it was well established at several women's colleges. While the YMCA was responsible for initially developing and spreading the game, within a decade it discouraged the new sport, as rough play and rowdy crowds began to detract from the YMCA's primary mission. However, other amateur sports clubs, colleges, and professional clubs quickly filled the void. In the years before World War I, the Amateur Athletic Union and the Intercollegiate Athletic Association (forerunner of the NCAA) vied for control over the rules for the game.A biography of 6 foot 3 Erin Buescher
Basketball was originally played with a soccer ball. The first balls made specifically for basketball were brown, and it was only in the late 1950s that Tony Hinkle, searching for a ball that would be more visible to players and spectators alike, introduced the orange ball that is now in common use.
Dribbling, the bouncing of the ball up and down while moving, was not part of the original game except for the "bounce pass" to teammates. Passing the ball was the primary means of ball movement. Dribbling was eventually introduced but limited by the asymmetric shape of early balls. Dribbling only became a major part of the game around the 1950s as manufacturing improved the ball shape.A Biography of 6 foot 5 Ruth Riley

Basketball, netball, volleyball, and lacrosse are the only ball games which have been identified as being invented by North Americans. Other ball games, such as baseball and Canadian football, have Commonwealth of Nations, European, Asian or African connections.
In 1892, University of California and Miss Head's School, played the first women's inter-institutional game. Berenson's freshmen played the sophomore class in the first women's collegiate basketball game at Smith College, March 21, 1893. The same year, Mount Holyoke and Sophie Newcomb College (coached by Clara Gregory Baer) women began playing basketball. By 1895, the game had spread to colleges across the country, including Wellesley, Vassar and Bryn Mawr. The first intercollegiate women's game was on April 4, 1896. Stanford women played Berkeley, 9-on-9, ending in a 2-1 Stanford victory. In 1901, colleges, including the University of Chicago, Columbia University, Dartmouth College, University of Minnesota, the U.S. Naval Academy, the University of Utah and Yale University began sponsoring men's games. By 1910, frequent injuries on the men's courts prompted President Roosevelt to suggest that college basketball form a governing body. And the Intercollegiate Athletic Association (IAA) was created.A Biography of 6 foot 4 Tammy Sutton Brown
In 1905, the National Women's Basketball Committee's Executive Committee on Basket Ball Rules was created by the American Physical Education Association. These rules called for six to nine players per team and 11 officials. The International Women's Sports Federation (1924) included a women's basketball competition. 37 women's high school varsity basketball or state tournaments were held by 1925. And in 1926, the Amateur Athletic Union backed the first national women's basketball championship, complete with men's rules. The first women's AAU All-America team was chosen in 1929. Women's industrial leagues sprang up throughout the nation, producing famous athletes like Babe Didrikson of the Golden Cyclones and the All American Red Heads Team who competed against men's teams, using men's rules. By 1938, the women's national championship changed from a three-court game to two-court game with six players per team. The first men's national championship tournament, the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in New York, was organized in 1938.
The NBA-backed Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) began 1997. Though it had an insecure opening season, several marquee players (Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Sue Bird among others) helped the league's popularity and level of competition. Other professional women's basketball leagues in the United States, such as the American Basketball League (1996-1998), have folded in part because of the popularity of the WNBA.
In 2001, the NBA formed a developmental league, the NBDL. The league currently has 8 teams, but will add 7 more for the 2006-2007 season.
Basketball was first included in the Olympic Games in 1936, although a demonstration tournament was held in 1904.
In the 1970s Women's Basketball was given more time. Three years later, the first FIBA World Championship for Women were held in Chile. Women's basketball was added to the Olympics in 1976, with teams such as Brazil and Australia rivaling the American squads.
FIBA dropped the distinction between amateur and professional players in 1989, and in 1992, professional players played for the first time in the Olympic Games.
The object of the game is to outscore one's opponents by throwing the ball through the opponents' basket from above while preventing the opponents from doing so on their own. An attempt to score in this way is called a shot. A successful shot is worth two points, or three points if it is taken from beyond the three-point arc which is 6.25 meters (20 ft 6 in) from the basket in international games and 23 ft 9 in (7.24 m) in NBA games. A Biography of 6 foot 7 Kara Wolters
Games are played in four quarters of 10 (international) or 12 minutes (NBA). College games use two 20 minute halves while most high school games use eight minute quarters. Fifteen minutes are allowed for a half-time break, and two minutes are allowed at the other breaks. Overtime periods are five minutes long. Teams exchange baskets for the second half. The time allowed is actual playing time; the clock is stopped while the play is not active. Therefore, games generally take much longer to complete than the allotted game time, typically about two hours. A Quiz on Women's Basketball
Five players from each team may be on the court at one time. Teams can have up to seven substitutes. Substitutions are unlimited but can only be done when play is stopped. Teams also have a coach, who oversees the development and strategies of the team, and other team personnel such as assistant coaches, managers, statisticians, doctors and trainers. A Biography of sexy Six foot Six Chantelle Anderson
For both men's and women's teams, a standard uniform consists of a pair of shorts and a jersey with a clearly visible number, unique within the team, printed on both the front and back. Players wear high-top sneakers that provide extra ankle support. Typically, team names, players' names and sometimes sponsors are printed on the uniforms.A Biography of 6 foot 5 basketballer Clarisse Machanguana from Mozambique
A limited number of time-outs, clock stoppages requested by a coach for a short meeting with the players, are allowed. They generally last no longer than one minute unless, for televised games, a commercial break is needed.
The game is controlled by the officials consisting of the referee, one or two umpires and the table officials. The table officials are responsible for keeping track of each teams scoring, timekeeping, individual and team fouls, player substitutions, team possession arrow, and the shot clock.
A regulation basketball court in international games is 28 by 15 meters (approx. 92 by 49 ft) and in the NBA is 94 by 50 feet (29 by 15 m). Most courts are made of wood. A cast iron basket with net and backboard hang over each end of the court. At almost all levels of competition, the top of the rim is exactly 10 feet (3.05 m) above the court and 4 feet (1.2 m) inside the endline. While variation is possible in the dimensions of the court and backboard, it is considered important for the basket to be of the correct height; a rim that is off by but a few inches can have an adverse effect on shooting.
Violations
The ball may be advanced toward the basket by being shot, passed between players, thrown, tapped, rolled or dribbled (bouncing the ball while running).

The ball must stay within the court; the last team to touch the ball before it travels out of bounds forfeits possession. The ball-handler may not move both feet without dribbling, known as traveling, nor may he dribble with both hands or catch the ball in between dribbles, a violation called double dribbling. A player's hand cannot be under the ball while dribbling; doing so is known as carrying the ball. A team, once having established ball control in the front half of the court, may not return the ball to the backcourt. The ball may not be kicked nor struck with the fist. A violation of these rules results in loss of possession, or, if committed by the defense, a reset of the shot clock. A Biography of 6 foot 3 Cheryl Ford

There are limits imposed on the time taken before progressing the ball past halfway (8 seconds in international and NBA), before attempting a shot (24 seconds), holding the ball while closely guarded (5 seconds), and remaining in the restricted area (the lane, or "key") (3 seconds). These rules are designed to promote more offense.

No player may interfere with the basket or ball on its downward flight to the basket, or while it is on the rim (or, in the NBA, while it is directly above the basket), a violation known as goaltending. If a defensive player goaltends, the attempted shot is considered to have been successful. If a teammate of the shooter goaltends, the basket is cancelled and play continues.

Fouls The referee signals that a foul has been committed.An attempt to unfairly disadvantage an opponent through personal contact is illegal and is called a foul. These are most commonly committed by defensive players; however, they can be committed by offensive players as well. Players who are fouled either receive the ball to pass inbounds again, or receive one or more free throws if they are fouled in the act of shooting, depending on whether the shot was successful. One point is awarded for making a free throw, which is attempted from a line 4.5 metres (15 ft) from the basket. The referee may use discretion in calling fouls (for example, by considering whether an unfair advantage was gained), sometimes making fouls controversial calls. The calling of fouls can vary between games, leagues and even between referees.My list of heights of very many famous supermodel A player or coach who shows poor sportsmanship, for instance, by arguing with a referee or by fighting with another player, can be charged with a technical foul. The penalty involves free throws and varies between leagues. Repeated incidents can result in disqualification. Blatant fouls with excessive contact or that are not an attempt to play the ball are called unsportsmanlike fouls (or flagrant fouls in the NBA) and incur a harsher penalty; in some rare cases a disqualifying foul will require the player to leave the playing area.

If a team surpasses a preset limit of team fouls in a given period (quarter or half) – four for international and NBA games – the opposing team is awarded one or two free throws on all subsequent fouls for that period, the number depending on the league. A player who commits five fouls, including technical fouls, in one game (six in some professional leagues, including the NBA) is not allowed to participate for the rest of the game, and is described as having "fouled out".

Since the 1980s, more specific positions have evolved, namely:A Biography of 6 foot 5 Chinese Volleyball International Zhao Ruirui

point guard: organizes the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right player at the right time
shooting guard: creates a high volume of shots on offense; guards the opponent's best perimeter player on defense
small forward: often primarily responsible for scoring points via cuts to the basket and dribble penetration; on defense seeks rebounds and steals, but sometimes plays more actively
power forward: plays offensively often with his back to the basket; on defense, plays under the basket (in a zone defense) or against the opposing power forward (in man-to-man defense)
center: uses size, either to score (on offense) or to protect the basket closely (on defense)
The above descriptions are flexible. On some occasions, teams will choose to use a three guard offense, replacing one of the forwards or the center with a third guard. The most commonly interchanged positions are point guard and shooting guard, especially if both players have good leadership and ball handling skills.

There are two main defensive strategies: zone defense and man-to-man defense. Zone defense involves players in defensive positions guarding whichever opponent is in their zone. In man-to-man defense, each defensive player guards a specific opponent and tries to prevent him from taking action. Variations of these two main structures are also used.A Biography of 6 foot 3 Polish Volleyball International Malgorzata Glinka

Offensive plays are more varied, normally involving planned passes and movement by players without the ball. A quick movement by an offensive player without the ball to gain an advantageous position is a cut. A legal attempt by an offensive player to stop an opponent from guarding a teammate, by standing in the defender's way such that the teammate cuts next to him, is a screen or pick. The two plays are combined in the pick and roll, in which a player sets a pick and then "rolls" away from the pick towards the basket. Screens and cuts are very important in offensive plays; these allow the quick passes and teamwork which can lead to a successful basket. Teams almost always have several offensive plays planned to ensure their movement is not predictable. On court, the point guard is usually responsible for indicating which play will occur.

Defensive and offensive structures, and positions, are more emphasized in higher levels in basketball; it is these that a coach normally requests a time-out to discuss.

With shooting, passsing and dribbling the key skills.
At the professional level, most male players are above 1.90 meters (6 ft 3 in) and most women above 1.70 meters (5 ft 7 in).

Basketball World Championship for Women FIBA World Championship for Women

Year, where held, then result of Final match, then result of 3rd and 4th place match,
1953 Santiago, Chile, USA beat Chile for Gold France beat Brazil for Bronze
1957 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, USA beat USSR for Gold, Czechoslovakia beat Brazil for Bronze, A Biography of 6 foot 2 Kasia Skowronska
1959 Moscow, USSR USSR beat Bulgaria for Gold Czechoslovakia beat Yugoslavia for Bronze
1964 Five cities in Peru USSR beat Bulgaria for Gold, Czechoslovakia beat USA for Bronze
1967 Four cities in Czechoslovakia USSR beat South Korea for Gold, Czechoslovakia beat West Germany for Bronze,
1971 Five cities in Brazil USSR beat Czechoslovakia for Gold, Brazil beat South Korea for Bronze,
1975 Three cities in Colombia USSR beat Japan for Gold, Czechoslovakia beat Italy for Bronze,
1979 Seoul, South Korea USA N/A by how much, beat South Korea for Gold, Canada beat Australia for Bronze,
1983 Four cities in Brazil USSR 84-82 USA China 71-63 South Korea
1986 Three cities in the Soviet Union USA 108-88 USSR Canada 64-59 Czechoslovakia
1990 Three cities in Malaysia USA beat Yugoslavia for Gold, Cuba beat Czechoslovakia for Bronze,
1994 Four cities in Australia Brazil 96-84 China USA 100-95 Australia
1998 Seven cities in Germany USA 71-65 Russia Australia 72-67 Brazil
2002 Details Nine cities in China USA 79-74 Russia Australia 91-63 South Korea
2006 Details Barueri and São Paulo, Brazil Australia 91-74 Russia USA 99-59 Brazil
2010 To be announced A Biography of 6 foot 8 Maria Stepanova, with a list of the winners of the Women's Euro League 1959-2006

Olympic achievements A Biography of 7 foot tall Women's Baketball Player Uljana Semjonova

1976 Montreal Gold Soviet Union (URS) Olga Barysheva, Tamara Dauniene, Natalya Klimova, Tatyana Ovechkina, Angele Rupšiene, Nadezhda Shuvayeva,
Nadezhda Zakharova, Uljana Semjonova, Raisa Kurvyakova, Nelli Feryabnikova, Olga Sukharnova, Tatyana Zakharova,

Silver United States (USA) Cindy Brogdon Susan Rojcewicz, Ann Meyers, Lusia Harris, Nancy Dunkle, Charlotte Lewis, Nancy Lieberman, Gail Marquis, Patricia Roberts, Mary Anne O’Connor, Patricia Head, Julienne Simpson,

Bronze Bulgaria (BUL) Krasimira Bogdanova, Diana Dilova, Krasimira Gyurova, Penka Metodieva, Snezhana Mikhaylova, Girgina Skerlatova, Mariya Stoyanova, Margarita Shtarkelova, Petkana Makaveeva, Nadka Golcheva, Penka Stoyanova, Todorka Yordanova,

1980 Moscow Soviet Union (URS) Gold Olga Barysheva, Tatyana Ivinskaya, Nelli Feryabnikova, Vida Beseliene, Tatyana Ovechkina, Angele Rupšiene, Lyubov Sharmay, Uljana Semjonova, Tatyana Zakharova, Olga Sukharnova, Nadezhda Shuvayeva, Lyudmila Rogozhina,

Silver Bulgaria (BUL) Krasimira Bogdanova, Vanya Dermendzhieva, Silviya Germanova, Petkana Makaveeva, Nadka Golcheva, Penka Stoyanova, Evladiya Slavcheva, Kostadinka Radkova, Snezhana Mikhaylova, Angelina Mikhaylova, Penka Metodieva, Diana Dilova,

Bronze Yugoslavia (YUG) Vera Djuraskovic, Mersada Becirspahic, Jelica Komnenovic, Mira Bjedov, Vukica Mitic, Sanja Ozegovic, Sofija Pekic, Marija Tonkovic, Zorica Djurkovic, Vesna Despotovic, Biljana Majstorovic, Jasmina Perazic,

1984 Los Angeles Gold United States (USA) Teresa Edwards, Lea Henry, Lynette Woodard, Anne Donovan, Cathy Boswell, Cheryl Miller, Janice Lawrence, Cindy Noble, Kim Mulkey, Denise Curry, Pamela McGee, Carol Menken-Schaudt,

Silver South Korea (KOR) Aei-Young Choi, Eun-Sook Kim, Hyung-Sook Lee, Kyung-Hee Choi, Mi-Ja Lee, Kyung-Ja Moon, Hwa-Soon Kim, Myung-Hee Jeong, Young-Hee Kim, Jung-A Sung, Chan-Sook Park,

Bronze China (CHN) Chen Yuefang, Li Xiaoqin, Ba Yan, Song Xiaobo, Qui Chen, Wang Jun, Xiu Lijuan, Zheng Haixia, Cong Xuedi, Zhang Hui, Liu Qing, Zhang Yueqin,

1988 Seoul Gold United States (USA) Teresa Edwards, Kamie Ethridge, Cynthia Brown, Anne Donovan, Teresa Weatherspoon, Bridgette Gordon, Vicky Bullett
Andrea Lloyd, Katrina McClain, Jennifer Gillom, Cynthia Cooper, Suzanne McConnell, A Biography of 6 foot 8 Basketball Player Anne Donovan

Silver Yugoslavia (YUG) Stojna Vangelovska, Mara Lakic, Zana Lelas, Eleonora Wild, Kornelija Kvesic, Danira Nakic, Sladana Golic, Polona Dornik, Razija Mujanovic, Vesna Bajkusa, Aselija Arbutina, Bojana Milosevic,

Bronze Soviet Union (URS), Olga Buryakina, Yelena Khudashova, Vitalija Tuomaite, Olga Yakovleva, Galina Savitskaya, Aleksandra Leonova, Olga Yevkova, Irina Sumnikova, Irina Minkh, Irina Gerlits, Olesya Barel, Natalya Zasulskaya,

1992 Barcelona Gold Unified Team (EUN) Elen Bunatyants, Irina Sumnikova, Marina Tkachenko, Irina Minkh, Irina Gerlits, Svetlana Zaboluyeva, Natalya Zasulskaya, Yelena Zhirko, Yelena Tornikidu, Yelena Shvaybovich ,Yelena Khudashova, Elena Baranova ,

Silver China (CHN) Cong Xuedi, He Jun, Li Dongmei, Li Xin, Liu Jun, Liu Qing, Peng Ping, Wang Fang, Zhan Shuping, Zheng Dongmei, Zheng Haixia,

Bronze United States (USA)Vicky Bullett, Daedra Charles, Cynthia Cooper, Clarissa Davis, Medina Dixon, Teresa Edwards, Tammy Jackson, Carolyn Jones,
Katrina McClain, Suzanne McConnell, Vickie Orr, Teresa Weatherspoon,

1996 Atlanta Gold United States (USA) Jennifer Azzi, Ruthie Bolton, Teresa Edwards, Venus Lacey, Lisa Leslie, Rebecca Lobo, Katrina McClain, Nikki McCray,
Carla McGhee, Dawn Staley, Katy Steding, Sheryl Swoopes A Biography of 6 foot 7 Kara Braxton

Silver Brazil (BRA) Roseli Gustavo, Marta Sobral, Silvia Luz, Alessandra Oliveira, Cintia Santos, Claudia Maria Pastor, Hortência, Adriana Santos, Maria Angelica, Janeth Arcain, Paula, Leila Sobral, A explanatory picture of what basketball is, a woman trying to score a 3 pointer

Bronze Australia (AUS) Robyn Maher, Rachael Sporn, Michele Timms, Michelle Brogan, Trisha Fallon, Allison Cook, Carla Boyd, Sandy Brondello, Shelley Sandie, Fiona Robinson, Michelle Chandler,

2000 Sydney Gold United States (USA) Teresa Edwards, Yolanda Griffith, Chamique Holdsclaw, Ruthie Bolton Holifield, Lisa Leslie, Nikki McCray,
DeLisha Milton-Jones, Katie Smith, Dawn Staley, Sheryl Swoopes, Natalie Williams, Kara Wolters

Silver Australia (AUS) Carla Boyd, Sandy Brondello, Trisha Fallon, Michelle Griffiths, Kristi Harrower, Jo Hill, Lauren Jackson, Annie La Fleur, Shelley Sandie, Rachael Sporn, Michele Timms, Jennifer Whittle,

Bronze Brazil (BRA) Janeth Arcain, Ilisaine Karin David, Lilian Cristin Concalves, Helen Luz, Silvia Andrea Luz, Claudia Neves, Alessandra Oliveira, Adriana Pinto, Adriana Santos, Cintia Santos, Kelly Santos, Marta Sobral

2004 Athens United States (USA), Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Tamika Catchings, Yolanda Griffith, Shannon Johnson, Lisa Leslie, Ruth Riley, Katie Smith, Dawn Staley,
Sheryl Swoopes, Diana Taurasi, Tina Thompson, A List of biographies of Very Tall women, dozens of them,

Silver Australia (AUS) Suzy Batkovic, Sandy Brondello, Trisha Fallon, Kristi Harrower, Lauren Jackson, Natalie Porter, Alicia Poto, Belinda Snell, Rachael Sporn, Laura Summerton, Penny Taylor, Allison Tranquilli,

Bronze Russia (RUS) Anna Arkhipova, Olga Arteshinam, Elena Baranova, Diana Goustilina, Maria Kalmykova, Elena Karpova, Ilona Korstine, Irina Osipova, Oxana Rakhmatulina, Tatiana Shchegoleva, Maria Stepanova, Natalia Vodopyanova , A Biography of 6 foot 5 Elena Baranova

For the first Women's Olympics Basketball in 1976, the USSR had not lost a International Basketball match since 1958 The high scorer was Semjenova. even though she was on the bench for most of the time the USSR played. She scored 19.4 pts a game on average, with 12.4 rebounds. The USSR won 5 and lost 0, and had 504 pts scored with 346 let in, the USA the Silver medalists had a 3 2 record, with 415 scored and 417 let in, the hosts Canada were bottom at 6th, scoring 336 in 5 defeats and letting in 477. The USA 95-79 win v Bulgaria won them the silver.

In 1980 the USSR again dominated, with every win by 31 pts or more , and a average score of 109.5 - 65. with the high scorer being Semjonova now a 27 year old giantess, with 21.8 pts and 12.5 rebounds a game. The teammate of her Olga Sukharnova, who was 6 foot 3 with her took more rebopunds than the Whole Italian team put together, In this competeition, the result was for 657 against 389, 2nd placed Bulgaria scored 513 with 509 against, on a 4-2 record. Italy were bottom in 6th with 308 for, and 452 against. They won a final 104-73 v Bulgaria, Yugoslavia won the 3rd place 68-65 V Hunagry

1984 Saw US domination, with Lynette Woodward who later becvame a Harlem Globetrotter, they won every game by over 28 or more. with high scorer Cheryl Miller at 16.5 pts. a game and 7 rebounds, they had a record of 516-320, winning 5-0 in games, Yugoslavia in second won 3-2 and had a record of 326-344, the bottom team the Czechoslovakians 0-5 and 339-382, They won the final 85-55 v South Korea, China won Bronze via a 63-57 win v Canada,

1982 saw the USSR 24 year winning streak beaten by a US win of 85-83 in Budapest in 1982, but in 1983 the Soviets won by 2pts in a World Championships final. The next time the teams played after 1984 Olympics, US pace saw them beat the USSR in the Final of the Goodwill Games, in 1986, with a 83-60 win to the US. then again the same year in Moscow the US in the WC final won 108-88 so the US now dominated.

In 1988 their player Teresa Edwards averaged 16.6 pts a game, with Katrina Mclain 17.6 pts, a game, and 10.4 rebounds. winning 77-70 v Yugoslavia in the final.

The 3rd place won by the Soviets 68-53 v Australia. A Australia that had Michelle Timms, who was in the 1996 Bronze team, and played with Lauren Jackson in 2000. 2000 with Lauren Jackson saw Australia rise up to be the main competitors with the USA for best team, as occurred in 2004.

But 1992 saw a shock win with the USA losing their 42 wins a row run in the Pan American Games in Cuba, Havana, with triumphs over them by Brazil and Cuba. The US seemed to dominate their group stages, beating each opponent on average by 45.7 pts in 3 games. With the USSR known as the CIS for this competition losing 91-89 to Cuba in their first match. Then the CIS beat the USA 79-73 in the Semis, with China beating Cuba, in that round too.

In the final apparently China was in the lead at 16-14 but the USSR took in 16 pts in succession and led to the end of the game and won Gold. Apparently 6 foot 2 and a half inches tall Lithuanian Natalya Zasulskaya led, with 17.4 pts a game, and 8.6 rebounds. , their overall record far less diminant than the Semonova era, with 399-361,

Semjonova was the tallest and heaviest Female athelete to win a Gold up to the time she won it. said to be 294 LBs in some books, at the time.

The USSR won 122 to 83 against Bulgaria in one 1976 match, and 119-53 against Italy in 1980

A Japanese player scored 38 Pts V Canada in 1976 her name was Miyako Otsuka, where the score of 121-89 meant 210 pts were scored a big amount.

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