Hortencia Marcari
Inducted:
2005
Player Stats
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
132 lb (60 kg)
Born
September 23, 1959
Potirendaba, São Paulo (state), Brazil
Position
Shooting guard
College
NA
Hortência Marcari, widely known simply as "The Queen" (A Rainha), is arguably the greatest international women’s basketball player to never play in the WNBA. A national icon in Brazil, Marcari was a prolific shooting guard whose scoring ability was legendary; she once scored an astounding 124 points in a single game in the Brazilian league. She dominated the international scene for over two decades, utilizing a relentless offensive motor and deep shooting range that earned her the respect of NBA and Olympic legends alike.
Her crowning achievement came in 1994, when she led Brazil to a FIBA World Championship gold medal, defeating a powerhouse U.S. team in the semifinals. After a brief retirement, she returned for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics to capture a silver medal, solidifying Brazil’s place as a global force. Though she retired just before the WNBA launched in 1997, her legacy paved the way for future Brazilian stars like Janeth Arcain. She was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005.
Marcari's Awards and Honors
- Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (2002)
- FIBA Hall of Fame (2007 - Inaugural Class)
- 1994 FIBA World Champion
- 1991 Pan American Games Gold Medalist
- Top Scorer of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics
- 4x South American Champion
- Rio 2016 Olympic Torchbearer
- One of the greatest female scorers in international basketball history
National team
Brazil
Number Worn:
4
NBA Stats
National Team Appearances:
137
Career Points (National Team):
3,337 (24.4 ppg avg)
1994 World Cup Scoring:
27.6 ppg (Tournament High)
Single-Game Scoring High:
121 Points (1987) / 124 Points (1991)
Olympic Medals:
1 (Silver, 1996)
FIBA World Championship appearances:
6
World Championship Medals:
1 (Gold, 1994)