Hortencia

One of the greatest international players the game has ever seen, Brazil’s Hortência Marcari still holds the FIBA Women’s World Cup record for the highest scoring average in a single tournament. She set the record in 1990, averaging an unreal (31.5) points per game across eight games, including a 44-point performance against China. A year later, Hortência helped lead Brazil to gold at the 1991 Pan American Games while averaging just over 27 points per game. Then came 1994. Hortência helped Brazil capture its first and only FIBA Women’s World Cup gold medal. She scored 32 points against Team USA in a 110-107 semifinal win before adding 27 points in the final, as Brazil defeated China by nine to become world champions. She retired from basketball after the World Cup, but her career wasn’t quite finished. Hortência eventually came out of retirement for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. At nearly 37 years old, she scored 20 points in the semifinal to help Brazil reach the gold medal game. Brazil would fall to Team USA in the final, giving Hortência an Olympic silver medal before she retired for good. And much of that came toward the end of an already remarkable career. At the 1983 FIBA World Cup, Hortência averaged (29.0) points per game, including 46 points against Yugoslavia and 38 against Team USA. She also helped lead Brazil to a silver medal at the 1987 Pan American Games. 🇧🇷✨