Magic Paula 8 (Female Magic Johnson) The Best Women's Basketball Players of All Time

#FIBAWWC #TheWomenofTroy #WNBA #FIBAWWC #NelsonIsley #FIBAWWC Magic Paula was invited to play in the WNBA but not accepted!
An iconic figure in Brazilian basketball, Maria Paula Goncalves Da Silva is entering the FIBA Hall of Fame.
A protagonist for the national side throughout her career, the 1.74m 'Magic Paula' amazed with her dribbling, passing and scoring.
The point guard, who came into the world on the 11th of March, 1962, truly was a wizard when the ball was in her hands.
Never was the native of Osvaldo Cruz, Sao Paulo, more important to her Brazil team than in a Semi-Final clash with the United States at the 1994 FIBA World Championship for Women in Australia.
In that young but star-laden American side were Teresa Edwards, Dawn Staley, Sheryl Swoops, Ruthie Bolton Holifield and Lisa Leslie.
But the Brazilians had the dynamic trio of Hortencia Marcari, Janeth Arcain and Magic Paula in their squad.
The players on both teams seemed to run up and down the court at a 100mph that day and mesmerized fans with a scoring explosion the Brazilians ultimately won, 110-107.
Magic Paula converted 15 of 18 opportunities at the free-throw line and drilled a couple of three-balls en route to 29 points.
Brazil then capped the most famous summer in their basketball history with a 96-87 triumph over China in the Gold Medal Game.
Asked to look back at her time as a player after being told she was to be inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame, she answered: "Surely the world title in Australia was the most important of my career and a generation.”
Two years after the world title triumph, Brazil and Magic Paula had another success.
The team reached the Final of the Atlanta Games.
Though they lost to the USA, Brazil were able to celebrate a first-ever medal in the Olympic women’s tournament.
There were other games of huge significance for Magic Paula, like the Gold Medal Game win in Havana against Cuba in the 1991 Pan American Games.
Cuba President Fidel Castro was the most famous spectator at that game.
Magic Paula is elated to be a part of the 2013 Class for the FIBA Hall of Fame.
"It is the recognition of a successful track record in basketball, marked by hard work, a lot of effort and dedication," she said.
MAGIC PAULA:Paula scored 2,537 points in 150 official matches (was the most played), averaging 16.9 points per game.
Magic Paula made 38 points and 8 assists in São Paulo-Brazil in the final against the United States playing against defenders of the level of Tereza Edwars, Edna Campbell and Katie Smith.
Paula was invited to play in the WNBA but not accepted!
Maria Paula “Magic Paula” Gonçalves da Silva
• also known as “Magic Paula” (counterpart of Magic Johnson)
• Date of birth: 11th of March 1962
• Birthplace: Osvaldo Cruz in São Paulo, Brazil
Nowadays, Maria Paula is a retired Brazilin basketball player and is considered a history maker. She was marked as one of the greatest women basketball player in Brazil along with other personalities in Brazilian Basketball such as Janeth Arcain and Hortencia Maarcari.
Magic Paula is the second to Hortencia as a huge scorer with a total of 723 points for Brazil women’s National Team. She is also holding the record for caps with 45 games, and was a participant in six World Championships and two Olympic Games.
Maria Paula became a member in the prestigious Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in the year 2006.
Paula was invited to play in the WNBA but not accepted!
Maria Paula Gonçalves da Silva (born March 11, 1962 in Osvaldo Cruz, São Paulo), nicknamed "Magic Paula", is a retired Brazilian women's basketball player. She is considered one of the greatest players in her country, along with Hortência Marcari and Janeth Arcain. For Brazil women's national basketball team, Paula is the second biggest scorer with 723 points (behind Hortência) and holds the record for caps with 45 games, being in two Olympic Games and six World Championships.