SIXTH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FOR WOMEN -- 1971

Sao Paulo, Brazil - May 15-29, 1971

Originally scheduled to be held in Chile in 1970, the Sixth Women's World Championship was postponed for a year and moved to Brazil after Chile withdrew its offer to host the event in the spring of 1970.

1971 USA Women's World Championship Team 1971 USA RESULTS (6-2) South Korea 86 USA 50 France 68 USA 51 USA 76 Ecuador 36 CLASSIFICATION ROUND USA 70 Ecuador 56 USA 60 Australia 49 USA 73 Madagascar 44 USA 74 Argentina 71 USA 80 Canada 60 1971 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL STANDINGS 1. Soviet Union (6-0) 8. USA (4-1)* 2. Czechoslovakia (4-2) * 9. Australia (4-1)* 3. Brazil (4-2)* 10. Canada (3-2)* 4. South Korea (3-3) 12. Argentina (3-2)* 5. Japan (2-4) 12. Ecuador (1-4) 6. France (1-5)* 13. Madagascar (0-5) 7. Cuba (1-5)* *Final standings determined by results between tied teams. NOTE: Team records reflect results from Final Round or Classification Round games only.

The team that represented the USA in 1971 was made up by three members of the AAU champion Hutcherson Flying Queens (Wayland Baptist College, Texas), six members from AAU runner-up Raytown Piperettes (Mo.), two members from third-place finishing Ouachita Baptist University (Ark.), and one player from Parsons College (Iowa). Of the 13 teams that competed in the 1971 World Championship, the USA's was the youngest and least experienced.

Despite recording six consecutive wins to finish the tournament with a respectable 6-2 record, by falling in its first two preliminary round games and finishing third in its group and failing to advance to the medal round, the United States women's World Championship team was only able to manage an eighth-place finish.

The death blow to the American's medal hopes came early. By losing their first two games, the U.S. women failed to advance to the final round and thus any medal hopes were gone.

The United States was thumped 86-50 by South Korea in the opening game of the tournament. In dire need of a victory, the U.S. actually led France by one at halftime, 33-32, however, France roared back and outscored the U.S. 36-18 in the second half to finish on top of a lopsided 68-51 score. Despite finishing the preliminary round with a commanding 76-36 victory over Ecuador, South Korea and France advanced to the final round and the U.S. was left to the consolation round.

The American team began to jell in the consolation round, reeling off impressive wins over Ecuador, Australia and Madagascar. Madagascar's participation marked the first time that the African continent was represented. Following a narrow 74-71 victory over Argentina, the U.S. closed out the competition with a 80-60 win over Canada to capture eighth place.

The Soviet Union, led by 18-year old Jullana Semenova who measured 6-11, won its fourth consecutive World Championship title, Czechoslovakia earned the silver and Brazil took the bronze.

1971 USA Women's World Championship Cumulative Statistics