Maria Paula Gonçalves da Silva

Let's begin with Magic Paula. At the World Championship held in Brazil in 1983, the journalist Juarez Araujo compared Maria Paula's game to the Los Angeles Lakers' idol Magic Johnson hence the nickname that followed. The perfect nickname as her dribbling skills, passing and qualities as a leader made her an extraordinary player. Ball in hand, Maria Paula was a magician, able to make any viewer jump out of their seat.

She is one of the best Brazilian basketball players of all time with her teammates Hortencia Marcari and Janeth Arcain. In fact, it was this legendary trio that made world basketball history at the 1994 World Championships in Australia. For the first time since 1953 - the year of the first Women's World Championship - a country other than the United States or the USSR won the gold medal. This feat is credited to Brazil, carried by the three stars at the top of their game.

June 11, 1994 will forever be a historic date in view of the sensational performance by the Brazilians in the semi-final. Their opponent was none other than the American ogre and its stars galore from Teresa Edwards and Sheryl Swoopes to Dawn Staley and Lisa Leslie. A presumably unfair fight as the balance of power seemed to the advantage of the US. Against all odds, Brazil, carried by their backcourt Paula Marcari, beat the US 110-107 in a breathtaking game. Magic Paula scored 29 points and was named MVP of the tournament in which she averaged 19.8 points and 4.4 assists per game.

The iconic point guard rose again two years later and allowed her country to climb on the second step of the podium of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Another feat made possible by Magic Paula without whom Brazil would not have managed to achieve such a high level.