By Michael Donovan
The U.S. women’s basketball team won its sixth consecutive gold medal, downing Spain 101-72, embarrassing yet another would-be opponent and showed yet again why they’re so deserving of global attention.
The win brought its eight-game margin of victory average to a whopping 37.2 points in what was a 49th consecutive win
Connecticut’s Geno Auriemma took over the national program in 2010 and has been there for two of the four Olympic golds Donna Taurasi won alongside point guard Sue Bird and forward Tamika Catchings. Young Brittney Griner hoisted fellow first-time Olympian, Elena Delle Donne, into the air as they soaked it all in on the court. All around Taurasi, it was more of the same.
“I mean you guys are here now,” Taurasi, who had 17 points (including five three pointers), said to a mass of media. “We’re doing something, and basketball is really important to a lot of people in the U.S., and no one takes it more serious than women. We play year round. We sacrifice a lot of things to make sure that we bring this home. And you know what? It’s ok. We’re happy.”
Even for fans who may not enjoy the WNBA action that all 12 of these women will now resume, theirs is the rare super team that more than lives up to the billing. The chemistry issues that dogged their U.S. male counterparts during these Games did not apply to the women, Auriemma blending the best in a seamless and collectively selfless way. Taurasi is nothing short of electric, having spent the past 16 years on the global stage showcasing the rare combination of play and personality that makes her such the entertainer.
Taurasi and guard Lindsay Whalen shared the team-high in scoring with 17 points, while forward Maya Moore had 14 points, six assists and five rebounds. Eleven of the 12 players scored. As a group, Team USA shot a scorching 59% from the field against a Spain team they downed 103-63 in group play.
As is always the case with this team, there was little doubt about the final outcome. Spain trailed by just three points midway through the second quarter, but back-to-back Taurasi three-pointers helped sparked Team USA during a 22-8 that put them by 49-32 at halftime. By the time the fourth quarter arrived – thanks to a 39-25 edge in that period – it was nothing but their latest laugher as they led 88-57.
