Denise Curry - Davis’ enduring superstar
Curry’s name and fame popped up once again on a national telecast last weekend
I was pleased and proud to hear the name of Davis’ own Denise Curry mentioned prominently last Sunday as the UCLA women’s basketball team routed South Carolina, 79-51, to claim its first national championship since 1978.
Curry, you see, was a key part of that 1978 team that won the AIAW (Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women) championship with a 90-74 win over Maryland.
Truth be told, “key” is nowhere near a strong enough word to describe Denise’s reign of terror in Westwood.
In the championship game against Maryland she had 18 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals and 2 assists.
In a hard-fought 85-77 semifinal win over Montclair State, Curry finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds while hitting 11 of her 14 field goal attempts.
She ended her four-year UCLA career with 3,198 points and 1,310 rebounds, the most of any Bruin ever. Yes, even including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor).
She was a three-time All-American who averaged 24.6 points a game during her career and was never once, in 130 collegiate games over four seasons, held under double figures.
Denise moved to Davis with her family as a teenager when her dad, Les, became the boys head basketball coach at Davis High.
She played two years for the Blue Devils who went 23-1 under Barb Iten and 24-1 under George Fleming as DHS claimed every title available in those days.
And oh, by the way, there was that Olympic Gold Medal that Denise and her American teammates claimed in the 1984 Los Angeles Games with an 85-55 win over South Korea. Curry hit 58.7 percent of her shots during the USA’s 6-0 run through the tournament.
She would have been a two-time gold medalist had the United States not boycotted the 1980 Olympic games in Moscow (Russia, not Idaho).
She ultimately played professionally in France, where she led her team, Stade Francais, to two national championships and later served as head women’s coach at Cal State Fullerton.
In 1990, UCLA decided it would finally, for the first time, retire the jerseys of basketball players.
Four players were selected - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, Ann Meyers and Denise Curry (#12).
She was also selected for the inaugural class of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999 and in 1981 was named as USA Basketball’s Female Athlete of the Year.
Not only was Denise’s dad, Les, a hugely successful boys coach at Davis High, but her brother, Mike Curry, produced 12 Wyoming state championships as head boys coach for the Campbell County Camels out of Gillette.
On a side note, I was thrilled to be in attendance when the first class of the Davis High School Hall of Fame was inducted in 2008.
In addition to Denise Curry, the inductees included famed musician Mark Inouye, mathematics superstar Dr. Elaine Kasimatis, six-time Hawaii Ironman champion Dave Scott and longtime football and baseball coach Bud Henle.
The Davis High Hall of Fame has been inactive for the last few years.
It’s time to bring it back.
Reach me at bobdunning@thewaryone.com
Bob, thanks for reigniting the old memories. They came flooding back reading this. Dennise Curry was the Caitilin Clark of that time.
Great nostalgia, Bob. I have certainly been aware of Denise’s Davis background and history but it was wonderful to be reminded about her groundbreaking career. And I agree: bring back the DHS HOF induction ceremonies!