Maria Paula Silva
Encyclopedia
Maria Paula Gonçalves da Silva, also known as Magic Paula (reference to Magic Johnson
) (born March 11, 1962 in Osvaldo Cruz
, São Paulo
), is a retired Brazil
ian 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
.
In 2006, Paula became a member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
.
Tênis Clube. One year and a half later, the team folded and Paula went to Jundiaí
to play for Colégio Divino Salvador, and a few months later, was drafted for the first time by the national team despite being only fourteen. In 1988, Paula went to play in Spain
, but an injured knee and difficulties of adaptation brought her back to Brazil in 1991.
In 1979, she helped her team to a fourth place at the Pan American Games
, held in Puerto Rico
. In 1983, Paula and the national team improved their previous Pan American performance by winning a bronze medal at the Venezuela
games, and, in 1987, went yet one more step further by winning a silver medal at the 1987 Indianapolis
Pan Americans. In 1991, Paula and the Brazilian women's national basketball team won the gold medal at that year's Pan American tournament, held in Cuba
, being the player which most impressed Cuban president Fidel Castro
.
In 1992, Paula helped her team qualify for the Olympic Games
for the first time. Brazil arrived in seventh place at the Barcelona Olympics
.
In 1993, Paula went to Associação Atlética Ponte Preta
, where she played along with Hortência
and won the World Championship for clubs. After discussions with Hortência, Paula returned to Piracicaba
.
In 1994, Paula won the women's world basketball championship in Australia
, making Brazil only country other than the Soviet Union
or the United States
to win the title (Australia
became the fourth in 2006). In 1996, she won a silver medal at the Atlanta Olympics
, and retired from the national team after winning the 1997 FIBA Americas Championship for Women
. She still played for clubs before retiring in 2000.
After retirement, Paula became an entrepreneur, director of the Centro Olímpico do Ibirapuera, and worked for a while in the Brazilian Ministry of Sports.
Magic Johnson
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers...
) (born March 11, 1962 in Osvaldo Cruz
Osvaldo Cruz
For the Brazilian epidemiologist, see Oswaldo Cruz. For the neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro, see Oswaldo Cruz .Osvaldo Cruz is a municipality in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. The population in 2004 was 30,023 and the area is 248.69 km². The elevation is 485 m...
, São Paulo
São Paulo (state)
São Paulo is a state in Brazil. It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy. Named after Saint Paul, São Paulo has the largest population, industrial complex, and economic production in the country. It is the richest state in Brazil...
), is a retired Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. She is considered one of the greatest players in her country, along with Hortência Marcari
Hortencia Marcari
Hortência Maria de Fátima Marcari is a former basketball player who is often considered to be one of the greatest women's basketball player in Brazil, alongside with Paula, and regarded as one of the greatest women's basketball player of all ever in the world by specialists in the world...
and Janeth Arcain
Janeth Arcain
Janeth dos Santos Arcain is a retired Brazilian professional women's basketball player. She played in the United States for the Houston Comets in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997–2005.-WNBA career:Arcain was one of the original players selected from the WNBA's inaugural...
. For Brazil women's national basketball team
Brazil women's national basketball team
Brazil women's national basketball team is the official women's basketball team for Brazil. They won the 1994 FIBA World Championship for Women in Australia.-Olympic Games:* 1992: 7th place* 1996: 2nd place * 2000: 3rd place...
, 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
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
and six World Championships
FIBA World Championship for Women
The FIBA World Championship for Women is a world basketball tournament for women's national teams held quadrennially...
.
In 2006, Paula became a member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame honors men and women who have contributed to the sport of women's basketball. The Hall of Fame opened in 1999 in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA...
.
Career
Paula begun playing basketball at the age of ten, and in 1974, was invited to join AssisAssis
Assis is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. In the city, there are many industries, schools, universities, large agriculture production and strong commerce...
Tênis Clube. One year and a half later, the team folded and Paula went to Jundiaí
Jundiaí
Jundiaí is a city and municipality in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The population in 2009 was 349,929, and the area is 433.958 km². The elevation is 761 m. Distance is 60 km north of the city of São Paulo.- History and Geography :...
to play for Colégio Divino Salvador, and a few months later, was drafted for the first time by the national team despite being only fourteen. In 1988, Paula went to play in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, but an injured knee and difficulties of adaptation brought her back to Brazil in 1991.
In 1979, she helped her team to a fourth place at the Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
, held in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. In 1983, Paula and the national team improved their previous Pan American performance by winning a bronze medal at the Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
games, and, in 1987, went yet one more step further by winning a silver medal at the 1987 Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
Pan Americans. In 1991, Paula and the Brazilian women's national basketball team won the gold medal at that year's Pan American tournament, held in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, being the player which most impressed Cuban president Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
.
In 1992, Paula helped her team qualify for the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
for the first time. Brazil arrived in seventh place at the Barcelona Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
.
In 1993, Paula went to Associação Atlética Ponte Preta
Associação Atlética Ponte Preta
Ponte Preta is a Brazilian football club located in Campinas, São Paulo. Ponte Preta is also known as Macaca. Ponte Preta's biggest rival is from the same city: Guarani. The games between Ponte Preta and Guarani are known as derby . They are known as "pontepretanos"...
, where she played along with Hortência
Hortencia Marcari
Hortência Maria de Fátima Marcari is a former basketball player who is often considered to be one of the greatest women's basketball player in Brazil, alongside with Paula, and regarded as one of the greatest women's basketball player of all ever in the world by specialists in the world...
and won the World Championship for clubs. After discussions with Hortência, Paula returned to Piracicaba
Piracicaba
Piracicaba is a city located in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. The population in 2009 was 368,843 in an area of 1,369.511 km², at an elevation of 547 m above sea level.-Name:...
.
In 1994, Paula won the women's world basketball championship in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, making Brazil only country other than the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
or the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to win the title (Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
became the fourth in 2006). In 1996, she won a silver medal at the Atlanta Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
, and retired from the national team after winning the 1997 FIBA Americas Championship for Women
FIBA Americas Championship for Women
The FIBA Americas Championship for Women is the name commonly used to refer to the American Women's Basketball Championship that take place every two years between national teams of the continents...
. She still played for clubs before retiring in 2000.
After retirement, Paula became an entrepreneur, director of the Centro Olímpico do Ibirapuera, and worked for a while in the Brazilian Ministry of Sports.