U.S. Women's Basketball Team Captures Seventh Straight Gold With Win Over Japan
In an event in which the team is rarely tested, the United States once again captured gold in commanding fashion.
The U.S. women's basketball team defeated Japan, 90–75, on Sunday to win its seventh consecutive gold medal, an incredible streak of dominance against the world's best teams.
While the Americans have leaned on defense for much of the knockout stage of the tournament, it was the offense that led the charge against Japan on Sunday. The U.S. dominated inside and got seemingly any shot it wanted, going 37-for-69 (53.6%) from the field.
Brittney Griner was unstoppable for the Americans, scoring 30 points on 14-for-18 shooting with five rebounds and three blocks. A'ja Wilson scored 19 points with seven rebounds, five assists and five blocks, while Breanna Stewart filled up the stat sheet with 14 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocks.
The U.S. had 12 blocked shots compared to Japan's zero. The Americans held the Japanese to just 36.4% shooting from the field.
Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi have now each won five gold medals, the most by any basketball player. At 40 years and 295 days old, Bird is the oldest basketball player to win a gold medal.
Taurasi, 39, said in her postgame interview, "See you in Paris," possibly an indication that she would not yet retire after what's already been a Hall of Fame career.
The U.S. had an average margin of victory of 16 for the tournament, ramping it up to nearly 20 in the knockout stage. The seven consecutive gold medals for the women's team ties the men's basketball team for the longest gold medal streak in team Olympics sports.
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