Basketball, Women

In 1983, the Soviet Union defeated the United States in the final of the World Championships, 84-82. Much of the USA team in 1983 would stay together to compete at the 1984 Olympics. They were led by the greatest ever women’s basketball coach, Pat Head (later Summitt), who had played on the USA team at the 1976 Olympics. With the Olympics in Los Angeles, it appeared that the United States might finally bring down the Soviet women’s team.

But the Soviet-led boycott, announced in early 1984, meant the two teams would not compete again for a second consecutive Olympiad. With the boycott, the field was again restricted to six teams – the USA, Korea, China, Canada, Australia, and Yugoslavia. The United States was led by Cheryl Miller, considered the greatest woman player to that time, and the sister of future NBA star, Reggie Miller. Nobody pressed the American team, which won the final over Korea, 85-55, its closest game in the tournament.