[4] When the American professional Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) started in 2001, Pretinha and compatriot Roseli were assigned to Washington Freedom in the inaugural draft.

[8] The team's top-goalscorer, Pretinha missed the culmination of the CyberRays' 2003 campaign after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during an international friendly between Brazil and the United States in July 2003.

Brazil won easily but Pretinha excelled to the extent that she was added to the national team panel for the World Cup.

[11] In China Pretinha featured in Brazil's last two group games; being unused in the 1–0 win over Japan then playing as a substitute in defeats by the United States (0–5) and Sweden (0–2).

Brazil finished at the bottom of Group A, but qualified for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics on account of England having no agreement to represent Great Britain.

At the Olympics Pretinha was the joint-top goalscorer with four goals, as Brazil finished in fourth place after a 3–2 defeat in the bronze medal match by Norway.

[14][15] Still playing for Vasco da Gama, Pretinha remained a key player for Brazil at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.

[20] She scored in both the 1–0 semi-final win over Sweden[21] and the 2–1 overtime final defeat by the United States, as Brazil collected silver medals.