The players on the bench led the crowd in a chant of United States of America. Serbia won bronze after defeating France earlier Saturday.
Advertisement
Then came practice on Tuesday – the first time they had a full contact session in almost three weeks.
The celebratory hugs had nearly ended in the wake of Team USA’s 101-72 victory over Spain when Diana Taurasi went back over to coach Geno Auriemma for one final embrace. “I think that is the sign of a true champion, someone who loves the game”. So it was good. You getting a little woozy?’ ” Griner joked. “It should pan out for us”. They join Teresa Edwards and Lisa Leslie, both of whom won four Olympic titles playing for Team USA. The U.S. did have a healthy Sue Bird for that game.
Call them the Extreme Team.
Serbia’s Milan Macvan (25) celebrates during the team’s win over Australia in a men’s semifinal round basketball game at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016. In the men’s javelin the USA streak of not having a medalist in the event since 1972 will continue as no American qualified for the final, but reigning gold medalist Julius Yego of Kenya Moore advanced to the final so there’s the chance of a repeat. He agreed to help launch the WNBA, now in its 20th season, by operating a franchise in Salt Lake City.
Team USA captain Bird, who sat out the semi-finals with a knee injury, was back in the lineup and was also non-committal about her national team future while Catchings confirmed Saturday’s gold medal game was her last. Take it too easy in practices, and that mentality just might bleed into a game.
Even if the three players don’t wear the red, white and blue again, the future remains bright for the U.S. Elena Delle Donne, Brittney Griner and Stewart all won their first Olympic golds. With less than five minutes remaining, Team USA was just 10 points away from punching in triple-digit points for the sixth time this Olympics.
“I mean I’m not just saying talent-wise”.
Smirking now, Auriemma added, “Unfortunately [for the rest of the world], we’re not going anywhere”.
They need one more win so he can leave with them there. “Right now”, he said, “we’re at a real high level that maybe no one has ever seen before”.
“When the stakes are the highest is when we all play the best and there won’t be any higher than on Sunday”, said U.S. guard Klay Thompson.”Expect a great effort from all of us”. They’re so well coached, Sasha (Djordjevic) does an incredible job with them.
Advertisement
“We got one more game to go and we have to lock in”, Anthony said. “So they’ll be very, very hard for us”.
