Unforgettable AmeriCup Moments: Magic Paula's 38 points in last game for Brazil

MIAMI (United States) - The countdown to the FIBA Women's AmeriCup 2021 is on.  A tournament with a long and rich history has had many of basketball's brightest stars grace its stage.

Among them was Maria Paula Goncalves da Silva, aka 'Magic Paula'.

Here we look back at one of the tournament's unforgettable moments, when Magic Paula, in her last performance with Brazil, led the country to a title-game triumph over the United States, in Sao Paulo, in 1997.

Magic Paula's finest hour

There was a time when Brazil ruled the world in basketball, a time when a guard known as Magic Paula pulled all the strings. Some would say she really had no equals.

Fans in Brazil still remember what unfolded at the FIBA Women's Americup 1997, and how Magic Paula put her national team on her back and led them past the United States, 101-95.

Hortencia Marcari had just retired so Brazil weren't believed to be as dangerous as the side that won the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 1994 in Australia. It didn't seem they'd have as much scoring punch as the one that finished runners-up to the USA at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Yet Brazil had the home-court advantage in 1997 and more importantly, they still had Magic Paula.

The sublime-passing, high-scoring playmaker had shone in the World Cup triumph and various other big wins for Brazil.  Her nickname, Magic, was given to her by a journalist because she had reminded him of the great Magic Johnson.

Magic Paula put on an enchanting display in an 87-83 victory over the USA in their first meeting at that FIBA Women's AmeriCup 1997 when it was apparent that Brazil, with the emotional lift from the crowd, had a chance to win the title.

The Brazilian icon was positively unstoppable in the Final three days later,  pouring in a game-high 38 points to lead Brazil to glory. Magic Paula made three of four shots from three-point land, 10 of 15 inside the arc and all nine of her free-throws.

How had she conjured up one of the best performances of her career, and maybe the very best, in her last game?

She looked to the heavens and said: "God was very generous to me in helping me say goodbye to the team by playing very well and being champion of a tournament that was missing from my collection."

FIBA