Prior to Saturday’s final, the USA women had racked up an average margin of victory of 38.4 points across its seven games in Rio.
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The US Basketball men’s national team is back in the Gold Medal Game for the third consecutive Olympics. It wasn’t as easy as sometimes it looked. Because of our depth and because of the experience that we have on our team, we were able to separate ourselves.
Basketball is a leading example of the powerhouse that USA women have become at the Olympics. “[We] showed that they’re not unbeatable, and that we can play against them”.
Hang on for a minute.we’re trying to find some more stories you might like.. The U.S. did have a healthy Sue Bird for that game.
I don’t think this gold medal was ever in doubt.
For the modern-day National Basketball Association stars who want so badly to preserve the Team USA legacy, and who know full well how infamy of a different kind will haunt them if they don’t win the gold medal Sunday against Serbia, the chance to beat up on the best – themselves – served as a poignant reminder.
The U.S. didn’t have to sweat on their path to the gold after defeating their opponents by an average of 37.3 points over eight games.
The United States continued its reign over Spain with a scrappy 82-76 win Friday to put it through to the gold medal final of the men’s basketball tournament for a third straight Olympics. Whalen finished with 17 points, tied for the team lead with Taurasi. “Then we got here and played well and acted like we’d been playing with each together for the entire year”.
The gold medal was the first for Stewart, Brittney Griner, and Elena Delle Donne.
The Americans are far ahead in the overall medal count in Rio, and the USA women have accounted for more than half the US medals. Taurasi has played in both Turkey and Russian Federation. All 11 Americans who played in the first half scored. “She is a big reason why I fell in love with the game”.
“I’m just really happy”, Bird said. I was like, ‘Oh, my goodness.
“When you think of United States of America, you think of basketball”, Taurasi said in an interview after the final whistle.
In the waning moments of the game, the players grew more excited.
If Serbia can keep up with Team USA early, or force Coach K into making lineup changes for the sake of tightening up the defense, it might provide the opening the underdog team needs to sneak up on the favorite in the gold medal game.
Auriemma said, “How can you play any better in a tournament?”
Spain’s silver is the first Olympic women’s basketball medal secured by the Spaniards, whose best prior showing was fifth in 1992 and 2008. “We made history”, said Spanish coach Lucas Mondelo. “We were close, but (the U.S.) is a team like it’s a dream team”, Spain’s Silvia Dominguez said. The Serbians’ defense was nothing short of spectacular, as they held the Boomers to five (YES FIVE!) points in the first quarter, and just 14 at halftime.
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Meanwhile, Serbia’s women won bronze Saturday, beating France 70-63 in the playoff.
