FOURTH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FOR WOMEN -- 1964

Lima, Peru - April 18 - May 4, 1964

Originally slated to be held in 1963, the Fourth World Championship was postponed several times while some of the venues were completed. When the competition finally did take place, it was historic because for the '64 World Championship featured 13 nations, including for the first time the top teams from the Americas, Europe and Asia.

1964 USA Women's World Championship Team 1964 USA RESULTS (5-4) USA 48 France 37 USA 54 Paraguay 39 Bulgaria 52 USA 39 FINAL ROUND Czechoslovakia 50 USA 31 USA 59 Peru 38 USA 51 Brazil 43 USSR 71 USA 37 Bulgaria 46 USA 42 USA 50 Yugoslavia 46 1964 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL STANDINGS 1. Soviet Union (6-0) 8. South Korea (5-0) 2. Czechoslovakia (5-1) 9. Japan (3-2) 3. Bulgaria (4-2) 10. France (2-3)* 4. USA (3-3) 11. Chile (2-3)* 5. Brazil (2-4) 12. Paraguay (2-3)* 6. Yugoslavia (1-5) 13. Argentina (1-4) 7. Peru (0-6) *Final standings based on point differential between tied teams. NOTE: Team records reflect results from Final Round or Classification Round games only.

This World Championship was also intriguing because of the potential for a USA-USSR showdown. The USA had captured the first two women's World Championship titles in 1957 and 1953, beating the Soviets in the 1957 finale. However, the United States did not participate in the 1959 World Championship which was held in Moscow, where the host Soviets claimed top honors. The basketball world was looking forward to another USA-USSR showdown.

Opening the preliminary round with successive wins over France, 48-37, and Paraguay, 54-39, the U.S. was stunned 52-39 in the final game of the preliminary stage by Bulgaria, the silver medalist at the 1959 World Championship, Still, by virtue of its second place finish in its pool competition, the USA advanced into the final round.

Things in the final round did not begin well for the Americans. Czechoslovakia handed the Americans their second straight loss, bettering the U.S. team 50-31. The U.S. regrouped and reeled off two consecutive wins, including a 59-38 drubbing of host Peru and behind a strong second half rally defeated Brazil 51-43. The Soviet Union loomed next for the U.S., and the Soviets led by just three at half, 20-17. But behind a USSR second half offensive explosion that saw the Soviets outscore the U.S. 51-20, the U.S. suffered a 71-37 loss. For the second time in the competition, Bulgaria again got the better of the U.S. team recording a 46-42 victory. Closing against Yugoslavia, the American women rallied from a 22-16 halftime deficit to capture a 50-46 win.

The Soviet Union emerged from the 1964 World Championship with the gold medal and an unblemished 6-0 record in the final round. Czechoslovakia earned the silver medal, and Bulgaria captured the bronze.

1964 USA Women's World Championship Cumulative Statistics