USA women's basketball team tops Japan to win seventh consecutive Olympic gold medal - msnNOW
TOKYO — When the Olympics were initially postponed by a year, Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi wondered whether they’d make it to Tokyo. At this late stage of their basketball careers, having first put on USA jerseys in 2004, every month marched them closer to a finish line that would theoretically put their roster spot in peril.
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“I started this countdown on my iPhone and every week I’d send it to Sue – 267 days, 250 days,” Taurasi said. “Can you imagine how long that countdown was? That (expletive) was stressful.”
Of course, the notion that either would get left home given what they’d done for USA Basketball was antithetical to the very nature of the program they helped reach incredible heights. In their world, this is how it’s done. You wait your turn, you lead, you win, you pass the baton to the next generation.
After dealing with all the pressure of trying to win their fifth gold medal together, and Team USA’s seventh straight overall, Sunday’s postgame news conference after a 90-75 win over Japan was in essence a champagne-soaked goodbye to this era.
Bird, 40, confirmed this was her last Olympics. Taurasi, 39, teased about how much she likes Paris but certainly talked and celebrated as if this was it. And Dawn Staley, who helped create the ecosystem for women’s basketball to thrive in America with three gold medals as a player and two as an assistant, revealed that she would be one-and-done as the head coach.
“Our country has a lot of great coaches that can get the job done,” she said. “Me, being a part of six, that’s enough. I’m full.”
But for all the history wrapped up in that triumvirate, the U.S. remains unyielding in women’s basketball because of the future.
Even through some uneven stretches during the tournament, the young American players carried the day, particularly forward A’ja Wilson, who celebrated her 25th birthday Sunday with 19 points and five blocked shots, and 26-year-old Breanna Stewart, who shined on defense and filled up every box score, ending her tournament with 14 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and three blocks.
It was fitting, in a way, that Wilson in her first Olympics proved to be the Americans’ best player game in and game out, forming a frontcourt duo with Brittney Griner that no other team in the world could match up against. Seven years ago, Wilson was a breakthrough recruit for Staley at South Carolina, finishing her career there as a three-time first-team All-American and a national champion.
Now here they were, elevating each other again, with Wilson growing into a leading role on the biggest stage of her career averaging 16.5 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting 59 percent.
“I’m super proud of A’ja,” Staley said. “Obviously from coaching her to being in the Olympics with her and just to see her sure of herself. She told me, ‘I’m not going to let you down, we’re going to win,’ and it’s comforting to know that she really meant it. It came from her and I’m just super happy for her and her parents because that’s one of the things when we were recruiting her that we were able to check off. It’s cool. She’s got more big games in her future I’m just happy I got to share in her first one.”
For Team USA, so much of that confidence was rooted in simply knowing who they were. Anytime there was a wobble or a lull in their play, they understood that between Wilson and Griner, they had a massive advantage with two post players who could catch the ball and score either facing up or with their back to the basket.
Against Japan, which didn’t have a frontcourt player taller than 6-foot-1 but created all kinds of problems at the offensive end with their spacing and shooting, Team USA was particularly focused on getting the ball inside and not leaving anything to chance. Hardly a possession went by without the ball touching the paint, and most of the time, there wasn’t much Japan could do about it. Between Wilson and Griner, who scored 30 points, they made 22-of-31 shots.
“We knew Japan wasn’t messing around,” Bird said. “We had the utmost respect for that team, and we knew if we weren’t locked in and ready to go, we could lose.”
By midway through the third quarter, when the U.S. extended its 50-39 halftime lead with an 18-6 run, that was no longer much of a concern. In the final moments, the focus turned to the celebration -- of what was, what is and what will be.
To win 55 consecutive games at the Olympics doesn’t happen by accident. In their case, it’s been about those links in the chain, carrying the culture from one generation to the next. And when that happens, there are certain seminal moments where change happens. To be able to see it coming, to have the opportunity to enjoy it and reflect on it in real time, is a luxury not everyone gets.
Taurasi and Bird are no longer the Americans’ best players, but they were good enough to be here, to start, to contribute, to show that there are bonds built through USA Basketball that can transcend anything else they do in their careers. That’s what keeps great players coming back. That’s what keeps Team USA on top.
“There’s always a lot of pressure when you put this jersey on,” Taurasi said. “I think you learn a lot about yourself when you play with the national team. It’s always a collection of 12 of the best players in the world and you have to set yourself aside and come together to win, and it’s not easy and it comes in different forms but we always find a way to do that and do it with class and team first. It’s pretty amazing. It teaches you a lot about yourself and other people.”
Aug. 8: Richard Torrez Jr wears his silver medal after the men's super heavy +91kg final bout.
Aug. 8: USA players on the podium with their gold medals after defeating Brazil in the women's volleyball gold medal match.
Aug. 8: Keyshawn Davis wears his silver medal on the podium after the men's lightweight final bout.
Aug. 8: The U.S. players celebrate winning the gold medal against Japan in the women's basketball.
Aug. 8: Jennifer Valente with her gold medal after winning the women's omnium cycling competition at Izu Velodrome.
Aug 7: The women's 4x400-meter relay team of Sydney McLaughlin, Allyson Felix, Dalilah Muhammad and Athing Mu celebrate with their gold medals.
Aug. 7: The men's 4x400-meter relay team of Bryce Deadmon, Michael Cherry, Michael Norman and Rai Benjamin celebrate with their gold medal.
Aug. 7: The U.S. baseball team celebrates with their silver medal.
Aug. 7: Kyle Snyder holds up his silver medal after the men's 97kg freestyle wrestling competition.
Aug. 7: Sarah Hildebrandt celebrates with her bronze medal captured in the women's 50kg freestyle wrestling competition.
Aug. 7: Laura Kraut, Jessica Springsteen and McLain Ward celebrate after securing the silver medal in equestrian jumping.
Aug. 7: The United States women's water polo team celebrates after defeating Spain to win the gold medal.
Aug. 7: Nelly Korda celebrates with her gold medal after winning the women's golf competition.
Aug. 7: Kevin Durant and Draymond Green celebrate after the U.S. men's basketball team won the gold medal vs. France.
Aug. 7: Molly Seidel celebrates her bronze medal finish in the women's marathon.
Aug. 6: The United State celebrates winning the silver medal in the women's 4x100 relay final.
Aug 6.: Allyson Felix (USA) celebrates winning the bronze medal in the women's 400m final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Olympic Stadium.
Aug 6.: Paul Chelimo (USA) celebrates winning the bronze medal in the men's 5000m final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Olympic Stadium.
Aug. 6: Gold medalist Gable Dan Steveson celebrates after defeating Geno Petriashvili in the men's freestyle 125kg final.
Aug. 6: Bronze medalist Ariel Torres Gutierrez reacts after competing in men's kata.
Aug. 6: Kyle Dake shows off with his bronze medal for men's freestyle 74kg wrestling.
Aug. 6: April Ross and Alix Klineman pose with their gold medals after the women's gold medal beach volleyball match.
Aug. 5: Helen Maroulis celebrates her bronze medal in the women's freestyle 57kg competition.
Aug. 5: Silver medalist Nathaniel Coleman reacts in the men's combined sport climbing bouldering final.
Aug. 5: Gold medalist Katie Nageotte reacts after winning the women's pole vault.
Aug. 5: Thomas Patrick Gilman celebrates his bronze medal in the men's freestyle 57kg.
Aug. 5: David Taylor celebrates after defeating Hassan Yazdanicharati in the men's freestyle 86kg final.
Aug. 5: The U.S. women's soccer team celebrates winning the bronze medal match against Australia.
Aug. 5: Silver medal winner Duke Ragan poses for photographs after the medals were awarded for the men's featherweight 57-kg boxing competition.
Aug. 5: Bronze medal winner Cory Juneau poses with his medal after the men's park skateboarding finals.
Aug. 5: Joe Kovacs (left) and Ryan Crouser reacts after placing one-two in the men's shot put. Crouser won gold while also setting an Olympic record. Kovacs won the silver medal.
Aug. 5: Nevin Harrison holds her up gold medal after winning the women's canoe single 200-meter final.
Aug. 5: Grant Holloway celebrates after winning the silver medal in the men's 110-meter hurdles.
Aug. 4: Noah Lyles (left) celebrates with Kenneth Bednarek after the men's 200-meter final. Bednarek and Lyles won the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
Aug. 4: Courtney Frerichs celebrates winning the silver medal in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Aug. 4: Silver medalist Christopher Nilsen stands during the medal ceremony for the men's pole vault.
Aug. 4: Oshae Jones won a bronze medal in women's welterweight boxing.
Aug. 4: Sydney McLaughlin (right) celebrates winning the gold medal with American teammate Dalilah Muhammad (silver) in the 400-meter hurdles.
Aug. 4: :Gold medalist Athing Mu holds the medal for the women's 800m.
Aug 4: Bronze medalist Raevyn Rogers holds up her medal for the women's 800m.
Aug 4.: Gabrielle Thomas (USA) celebrates winning the bronze medal in the women's 200m during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Olympic Stadium.
Aug. 3: Tamyra Mensah-Stock (USA) celebrates her gold medal in the women's freestyle 68kg competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Makuhari Messe Hall A.
Aug. 3: Simone Biles celebrates winning the bronze medal on the balance beam.
Aug. 3: Bronze medalists Chloe Dygert, Megan Jastrab, Jennifer Valente, Emma White of the U.S. pose on the podium during the medal ceremony for women's team pursuit.
Aug. 3: Silver medalist Rai Benjamin celebrates after the men's 400-meter hurdles.
Aug. 3: Brittney Reese celebrates after winning the silver medal in the women's long jump.
Aug. 3: Valarie Allman poses with her gold medal during the victory ceremony for the women's discus throw.
Aug. 2: Adeline Maria Gray (USA) receives her silver medal in the women's freestyle 76kg wrestling during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Makuhari Messe Hall A.
Aug. 2: Sarah Robles of the United States celebrates with her bronze medal in the women's +87kg weightlifting.
Aug. 2: Jade Carey holds up her gold medal during the ceremony for the women's floor exercise.
Aug. 2: Kendra Harrison celebrates after winning the silver medal in the women's 100-meter hurdles.
Aug 1: Women's Cycling BMX Freestyle silver medalist Hannah Roberts (USA) during the BMX Freestyle during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Ariake Urban Sports Park.
Aug. 1: Fred Kerley celebrates after winning silver in the men's 100-meter final.
Aug. 1: Kate Nye waves from the podium after receiving the silver medal for women's 76kg weightlifting.
Aug. 1: Sunisa Lee shows off her bronze medal in the women's uneven bars.
Aug. 1: The United States team of Alex Massialas, Race Imboden, Gerek Meinhardt and Nick Itkin celebrates on the podium after winning the bronze medal in the men's foil team final.
Aug. 1: Mykayla Skinner celebrates winning the silver medal on the vault.
Aug. 1: Xander Schauffele celebrates with the gold medal during the medal ceremony for men's individual stroke play golf.
Aug. 1: Krysta Palmer celebrates her bronze medal finish in the women's 3-meter springboard diving final.
Aug. 1: Raven Saunders celebrates after winning silver in the women's shot put.
Aug. 1: Ryan Murphy , Michael Andrew , Caeleb Dressel and Zach Apple celebrate with their gold medals after winning the men's 4x100-meter medley relay.
Aug. 1: Regan Smith, Lydia Jacoby, Torri Huske and Abbey Weitzeil pose with silver medals during the medals ceremony for the women's 4x100-meter medley relay.
Aug. 1: Bobby Finke with his gold medal for the men's 1,500-meter freestyle.
Aug. 1: Caeleb Dressel with his gold medal after winning the men's 50-meter freestyle.
July 31: Vernon Norwood, Kaylin Whitney, Kendall Ellis and Trevor Stewart pose with their bronze medals for the mixed 4x400m relay,
July 31: Madelynn Ann Bernau and Brian Burrows pose after winning the bronze medal in the trap mixed shooting competition.
July 31: Katie Ledecky celebrates her gold medal during the medals ceremony for the women's 800-meter freestyle. Ledecky finished her Tokyo Olympics with four medals: Two gold and two silver.
July 31: Caeleb Dressel with his gold medal at the medals ceremony for the men's 100-meter butterfly.
July 31: Morgan Pearson, Katie Zaferes, Taylor Knibb and Kevin McDowell of the U.S. pose with their silver medals following the mixed relay triathlon.
July 30: Ryan Murphy poses with his silver medal after the final of the men's 200-meter backstroke.
July 30: Annie Lazor (bronze) and Lilly King (silver) hold up their medals after finishing third and second, respectively, in the women's 200-meter breaststroke.
July 29: Suni Lee poses with her gold medal after winning the women's gymnastics individual all-around final.
July 29: Kayle Browning celebrates her silver medal in the women's trap shooting competition.
July 29: The women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay team celebrates their silver medal.
July 29: Caeleb Dressel celebrates his gold medal in the men's 100-meter freestyle.
July 29: Bobby Finke celebrates his gold medal in the men's 800-meter freestyle.
July 29: Regan Smith and Hali Flickinger celebrate with their silver and bronze medals, respectively, after the women's 200-meter butterfly.
Gold medalists, from left, USA player Kelsey Plum (5), USA player Jacquelyn Young (8), USA player Stefanie Dolson (13), USA player Allisha Gray (15) during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Aomi Urban Sports Park on July 28, 2021.
July 28: Erica Sullivan (silver) and Katie Ledecky (gold) show off their medals during the ceremony for the women's 1500-meter freestyle.
July 28: Andrew Capobianco and Michael Hixon pose with their silver medals after the men's 3-meter springboard synchronized diving competition.
July 28: Alex Walsh (silver) and Kate Douglass (bronze) pose with their medals during the ceremony for the women's 200-meter individual medley.
July 27: U.S. gymnasts Grace McCallum, Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles and Simone Biles celebrate after winning the silver medal during the women's team final.
The United States' Adrienne Lyle, from left, Steffen Peters and Sabine Schut-Kery, stand on the podium after receiving the silver medal for the equestrian dressage team event at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo.
July 27: Team USA celebrates winning the silver medal in softball.
July 27: Carissa Moore celebrates winning the gold medal in the women's surfing competition.
July 27: Mary Tucker and Lucas Kozeniesky celebrate winning the silver medal in 10-meter air rifle mixed team competition.
July 27: Jessica Parratto and Delaney Schnell celebrate their silver-medal finish in the women's 10-meter platform synchronized diving competition.
July 27: Lydia Jacoby (gold) and Lilly King (bronze) show off their medals during the medals ceremony for the women's 100-meter breaststroke.
July 27: Ryan Murphy shows his bronze medal during the medals ceremony for the men's 100-meter backstroke.
July 27: Regan Smith celebrates her bronze medal in the women's 100-meter backstroke.
July 27: Katie Zaferes celebrates with her bronze medal after placing third in the women's triathlon
July 26: Amber English and Vincent Hancock celebrate their gold medal wins in the women's and men's skeet shooting events.
July 26: Caeleb Dressel, Blake Pieroni, Bowen Becker and Zach Apple with their gold medals in the medals ceremony for the men's 4x100-meter freestyle relay.
July 26: Katie Ledecky with her silver medal during the medals ceremony for the 400-meter freestyle.
July 25: Anastasija Zolotic celebrates on the podium after winning gold in women's 57kg taekwondo.
July 25: Fencer Lee Kiefer of Team USA poses on the podium with her gold medal in women's individual foil.
July 25: William Shaner holds the gold medal after winning the men's 10m air rifle event.
July 25: Jagger Eaton celebrates winning the bronze medal in men's street skateboarding.
July 25: Team USA members Erika Brown, Abbey Weitzeil, Natalie Hinds and Simone Manuel celebrate with their bronze medals during the medals ceremony for the women's 4x100-meter freestyle relay.
July 25: Medalists from left Emma Weyant (USA), Yui Ohashi (Japan) and Hali Flickinger (USA) during the medals ceremony for the women's 400-meter individual medley. Weyant took silver and Flickinger the bronze in the event.
July 25: Kieran Smith celebrates with his bronze medal during the medals ceremony for the men's 400-meter freestyle.
July 25: Jay Litherland (USA), Chase Kalisz (USA) and Brendon Smith (AUS) with their medals during the ceremony for the 400-meter individual medley. Kalisz took gold and Litherland the silver in the first medals won by Team USA in Tokyo.
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