For the sixth Olympics running, the United States women’s basketball team is golden at the Olympics. The United States walloped Spain 101-72 to win gold in Rio.
Spain kept it from getting out of hand early, sticking with the gold medalists for most of the first half. They were within three points with just over six minutes remaining in the second quarter, but a 22-8 run to finish the quarter put the game out of reach for good.
Maya Moore and Diana Taurasi were once again the leaders for the United States. The duo combined for 12 points during the pivotal second-quarter run.
Taurasi extended her record-setting pace from the three-point line. She added five more against Spain to finish the tournament with an all-time Olympic mark of 33 triples in a single tournament. She tallied a team-high 17 points, two rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Moore did a bit of everything with 14 points, five rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block.
The United States depth proved to be just too much to handle once again in this tournament. The U.S. reserves scored 55 points compared to just 23 points for the Spanish bench.
Alba Torrens, Taurasi and Brittney Griner’s teammate in Russia, scored a team-high 18 points for Spain to go along with five rebounds, four assists and five steals. Sylvia Dominguez added 11 points, including a buzzer-beating half-court shot at the end of the third quarter.
With the win, Taurasi, Sue Bird and Tamika Catchings all captured their fourth gold medals, tying the record for most Olympic golds in women’s basketball history. They join Teresa Edwards and Lisa Leslie, both of whom won four Olympic titles playing for Team USA.
The Rio Games are Catchings, 37, fourth and final Olympics. Bird, 35. and Taurasi, 34, are still among the best players in the world, and the 2020 Olympic are not out of the question.
It’s the first gold medal for Brittney Griner, Elena Delle Donne, and Breanna Stewart. Stewart is the first player, man or woman, to win four straight NCAA titles followed by an Olympic gold.
Geno Auriemma won his second Olympic title as head coach. In Rio, Auriemma coached five University of Connecticut aluma: Taurasi, Bird, Moore, Stewart and Tina Charles — all of whom won NCAA under Auriemma’s tutelage at UConn.
The win was the United States women’s 49th straight win in Olympic play.
The silver medal is Spain’s first Olympic medal in women’s basketball.