Hortência

Hortência is considered the finest women’s player ever outside of the United States and the Soviet Union. At 174 cm. (5-8½) she was far from the tallest player in most games but she was a potent offensive weapon of whom it was once said by Cheryl Miller, “She can score on anybody.” In 1983, she scored 36 and 46 points against the United States in games at the World Championships and the Pan American Games. With Brazil she won silver medal at the 1996 Olympics, and from 1983-91, won a full set of medals (bronze/silver/gold) at the Pan American Games. She led Brazil to the 1994 World Championship title in Australia. Hortência spent most of her career playing professionally for Prudentinas, a club team in the small town of Presidente Prudente. She retired just before the WNBA was formed, but she played professionally at various times in Peru, Singapore, Malaysia, Bulgaria, and South Korea.