Final thoughts
With the 29 point win today, I think it’s fair to say that this has been maybe the most impressive stretch of women’s basketball that, at least, I can recall.
It’s been a pleasure chronicling their efforts these last few weeks. Thanks for following along with me, especially everyone who contributed on the way. This ends our Olympic women’s basketball liveblogging, but stick with the Guardian for it’s non-stop coverage of the rest of the Games. Ciao!
US win!
US 101-72 Spain, FINAL
Breanna Stewart hits a three-pointer to make it yet another game where the US women have scored 100 points. Xargay makes a jumper and time expires and the US women have won their sixth straight gold medal!
US 98-70 Spain, 1:15, 4th quarter
A Torrens three-pointer gives her 18 points. A fantastic effort by her in somewhat of a hopeless cause.
US 94-67 Spain, 2:31, 4th quarter
I think it’s safe to say that neither side is playing with much defensive effort at this point of the game.
US 92-63 Spain, 3:16, 4th quarter
Xargay keeps scoring even though this one’s basically settled.
US 90-61 Spain, 4:27, 4th quarter
Angel McCoughtry hits a jumper which is answered by Marta Xargay but Spain’s time is starting to run out here.
US 88-59 Spain, 6;26, 4th quarter
And after a brief suspension of internet service, I return to find that Spain has gone on a run courtesy of the tag team of Dominguez and Torrens. In that span, the US’s only scoring comes from a Taurasi jumper.
US 86-51 Spain, 8:37, 4th quarter
Oh and also Tamika Catchings is finally in the game.
Dominguez makes a layup for Spain. Delle Donne knocks down a jumper.
US 84-49 Spain, 9:16, 4th quarter
Anyone want to guess what Taurasi does to start of the scoring in the 4th quarter?
US 81-49 Spain, end of the 3rd quarter
Taurasi hits another three. Okay now that’s starting to feel a little mean.
Maybe that’s why the Basketball Gods reward Spain as Silvia Dominguez’s last second desperation three ends up being good! A loud cheer echoes around the stadium.
US 78-46 Spain, 1:01, 3rd quarter
Angel McCoughtry and Sylvia Fowles add to their total. This is now officially out of hand, I’m calling it.
US 74-46 Spain, 2:01, 3rd quarter
Augustus with a jumper. Still no sign of Catchings.
Anna Cruz gets to the line, knocks down her two free throws. The US isn’t in great shakes as far as fouls, but they’re in a better shape than Spain. After Delle Donne hits a jumper, Astou Ndour picks up another foul, which puts Delle Donne on the line where she connects with her two free throws and adds to her points total.
US 68-44 Spain, 3:39, 3rd quarter
Silva Dominguez hits a layup. But, again, the US immediately answers. This time it’s Elena Delle Donne, getting some time off the bench,
US 66-42 Spain, 4:32, 3rd quarter
Here’s a problem for Spain if they want to mount a comeback: the US’s shooters are refusing to miss this quarter. Augsutus and Whalen knock down their shots
US 62-42 Spain, 6:45, 3rd quarter
And Whalen with a layup and the US have built a 20 point lead.
Updated
US 60-42 Spain, 6:45, 3rd quarter
Laia Palau his a jumper and Moore makes a rare miss.
But Brtitney Griner is right there with the rebound and the tip in.
Spain need something, anything here and Astou Ndour is there with a rebound and a long three.
Updated
US 58-37 Spain, 7:35, 3rd quarter
Out of the timeout, Ndour hits a three-pointer. Spain needed that.
And Whalen with a jumper for the US. Spain could have done without that.
Updated
US 55-34 Spain, 8:00, 3rd quarter
And another Taurasi three. Spain take a quick timeout.
Updated
US 53-34 Spain, 8:17, 3rd quarter
Lala Palau makes a layup, and then draws a foul on Sue Bird. She misses her free throw. Moore makes another layup, she’s not backing down.
Updated
Second half starts!
US 51-32 Spain, 9:35, 3rd quarter
Spain wins the jump ball but Sue Bird gets the steal! Tina Charles takes a Maya Moore assist and knocks down a basket to start the scoring.
Updated
In fact, 11 out of the 12 players for the US have scored in the first half. The only one who hasn’t is Tamika Catchings, who has yet to appear in the game.
And how good has Maya Moore been? Well this good:
12 - @MooreMaya has 12 points in the 1st half for #USA, surpassing her #Olympics average of 11.7. She also has a team-high 5 assists. Leader
— OptaLarry (@OptaLarry) August 20, 2016
We have to give credit to Alba Torrens here: 13 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in the first half, she’s been carrying Spain for the first 20 minutes and has definitely been the best player on the floor. (Although Maya Moore might not agree.)
Halftime!
The USA has a 49-32 lead over Spain at the half. That last flourish from Maya Moore is exactly what they needed to end that quarter strong.
USA 49-32 Spain, end of the 2nd quarter
Torrens gets fouled by Bird, makes one of two free throws. But that will do it for Spain’s scoring in the first half. Moore hits a left-handed layup, steals a Xargay pass and then gets the ball to Lindsay Whalen who ends the first half with a layup to increase the US lead.
USA 43-27 Spain, :44, 2nd quarter
Marta Xargay gets to the line and hits two free throws. Charles makes a basket which is swiftly answered by Anna Cruz. That’s more back-and-forth action than we’ve had in the rest of the quarter.
Moore misses a three.
USA 43-27 Spain, 1:52, 2nd quarter
Maya Moore hits two straight jumpers. Anna Cruz gets to the line and makes… one of two free throws. Tina Charles was called for the foul, but she makes up for it by knocking down a jumper that forces Spain to take a timeout.
Email from Simon McMahon:
Evening Hunter. ‘Not a bad couple of days for Serbian basketball’ is, I imagine, the kind of sentence you would only find yourself typing during the Olympics. USA 90 Spain 72 is my prediction here.
That sounds about right at this point of the game.
USA 37-26 Spain, 2:37, 2nd quarter
Laura Nicholls tips in an Anna Cruz miss and the Spanish team finally get on the board again.
USA 37-24 Spain, 4:21, 2nd quarter
And Taurasi hits ANOTHER three pointer.
Breanna Stewart with a layup. Meanwhile, the Spain are having trouble hitting their shots. A long scoreless streak here and the game could start getting out of hand.
USA 32-24 Spain, 6:01, 2nd quarter
Taurasi does what she’s been doing all Olympics: smoothly knocking down a three pointer. That’s her 29th of the tournament.
USA 29-24 Spain, 6:33, 2nd quarter
Ndour gets called for a foul. Breanna Stewart gets on the line, she makes both of her free throws. If the US can start connecting for a better percentage they could Torrens-proof this game.
USA 27-24 Spain, 6:59, 2nd quarter
Maya Moore with a three. Spain wants a travel call there, but it’s not coming. Instead, Ndour hits a three pointer. That’s another way to counteract a three.
USA 24-21 Spain, 7:58, 2nd quarter
Marta Xargay hits a layup for Spain and then Torres adds a jumper. Spain are not going to fade away here, not as long as Torres is on the court.
USA 24-17 Spain, 9:35, 2nd quarter
Sue Bird nails a three-pointer to start off the second quarter.
USA 21-17 Spain, end of the 1st quarter
Angel McCoughtry makes a layup and then gets fouled. On the line, she knocks down two free throws to give the US the lead at the end of the 1st quarter.
USA 17-17 Spain, :59, 1st quarter
And the officials start to get involved here. Nicholls gets called for an offensive foul. Sylvia Fowles gets called for traveling. After failing to convert on their end, Silva Dominguez gets called for a foul that puts Whalen on the line. She hits one of two.
USA 16-17 Spain, 1:44, 1st quarter
Torrens with a three pointer. She is just ridiculous right now, by far the biggest threat on the court.
Whalen hits a quick jumper to cut Spain’s lead back down to one.
USA 14-14 Spain, 2:19, 1st quarter
Astou Ndour hits a jumper. She then fouls Elena Delle Donne, who ties the game back up on the free throw line. A chippy game so far, and that doesn’t benefit the US team.
USA 12-12 Spain, 2:59, 1st quarter
Torrens with a layup. Whalen gets drilled on the floor, but there’s no foul called on Spain. Instead Seimone Augustus makes a loooong two to tie things back up.
USA 10-10 Spain, 3:18, 1st quarter
Torrens with another basket. Okay, that’s not a positive sign.
Maya Moore gets fouled, gets to the line, misses both.
USA 10-10 Spain, 3:46, 1st quarter
Lindsay Whalen with a layup to give the US a lead. But Torrens, who has been hot here, makes a jumper to make it all even again.
USA 8-8 Spain, 4:21, 1st quarter
Sylvia Fowles gets to the line, makes one of two free throws to swiftly tie the game back up.
USA 7-8 Spain, 4:40, 1st quarter
Tina Charles with a beautiful pass to Griner, who hits a layup and draws a foul. But she misses the free throw. It’s rebounded by Charles but Griner is called for a foul. On the other end, Lala Palau knocks down a three and Spain has an early lead here.
USA 5-5 Spain, 6:04, 1st quarter
Alba Torrens with the basket and she gets a foul on Brittney Griner. She ties things up on the free throw line.
USA 5-2 Spain, 6:20, 1st quarter
Shot clock violation on the US, giving possession back to Spain. The ball may have actually hit the rim on replay, but that doesn’t do the US any good.
But Spain does turn it over.
USA 5-2 Spain, 7:32, 1st quarter
There we go! Maya Moore drains a three. Anna Cruz knocks down a jumper. And Moore finds Tina Charles for a basket. It all happens all at once, for the offenses.
USA 0-0 Spain, 8:23, 1st quarter
And Sue Bird misses a three pointer. In fact, the defense on both sides seems to be crisper than the offense. Nobody can make a shot here.
Opening tip
USA 0-0 Spain, 9:43, 1st quarter
Spain gets the ball. Alba Torrens… gets called for a travel.
Starters
US
Sue Bird
Maya Moore
Diana Taurasi
Tina Charles
Brittney Griner
Spain
Laura Nicholls
Alba Torrens
Laia Palau
Anna Cruz
Astou Ndour
“The other five medals don’t really help your for this one.” Geno Auriemma isn’t really impressed with the US women going for their sixth straight gold medal. He’s not really impressed with much, really, which is understandable considering how successful he’s been.
And the “Coverage To Begin Shortly” screen on the live stream is now framed by a gaudy Coca-Cola advertisement saying “#ThatsGold.” The future is at once amazing and annoying as heck.
Email from Josehp:
Hello!
I am new in basket.
In the roster I read G, F, C. On TV they also put this. What is the meaning?
Thanks.
Those are short hand for the positions that those players play. G is for “guard,” F is for “forward,” and C is for “center.” It’s useful shorthand for where players are most likely to appear and what duties they tend to have, although it’s not always completely relevant when all-star caliber groups like these are on the floor.
Predictions
Honestly, I’m expecting this to morph from a competitive game to a coronation somewhere early in the third quarter. Maybe I’m wrong. I hope I’m wrong, personally, because it’s a lot more fun to liveblog these games when there’s actually something at stake. Expect, a 20+ point differential and the possibility of veteran players getting taken off the court before the final buzzer.
Your thoughts? Email them to Hunter.Felt@theguardian.com or tweet them to @HunterFelt and we’ll publish them here.
Diana Taurasi
This could also be the last Olympics for Diana Taurasi. So hey, we should probably take a minute or two to recognize her.
The last we saw Sue Bird she was limping off the court in their game against Japan and she didn’t play in their win over France. The good news is that she’s apparently healthy enough to play in what most likely be her last Olympic game.
Geno Auriemma told me Sue Bird is playing today. See the full interview pre-game on NBC.
— Kerith Burke (@KerithBurke) August 20, 2016
And, one last time, the US women’s roster
G Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx)
F Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx)
G Sue Bird (Seattle Storm)
F Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx)
F Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream)
F/C Breanna Stewart (Seattle Storm)
F Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever)
G/F Elena Delle Donne (Chicago Sky)
G Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury)
C Sylvia Fowles (Minnesota Lynx)
C Tina Charles (New York Liberty)
C Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury)
Spain’s roster
G Leticia Romero
G Laura Nicholls
G Silvia Dominguez
F AlbaTorrens
G Laia Palau
F Mata Xargay
F Leonor Rodriguez
C Lucila Pascua
F Anna Cruz
F Laura Quevedo
C Laura Gil
C Astou Ndour
The Bronze Medal Game
In the women’s basketball bronze metal game, Serbia beat France 70-63. That’s coming a day after the men’s basketball team beat Australia 87-61 in the semifinals, they’ll face the US tomorrow in the men’s gold metal game. Not a bad couple of days for Serbian basketball.
Preamble
And, to the surprise of no one, the US women’s basketball team has reached the gold medal game. They are arguably one win away from establishing themselves as one of the greatest basketball teams of all time. If they could win in blowout fashion, that would help their case too.
Of course, don’t expect Spain to just let that happen, even if they beat Spain 103-63 back in group play. The Spanish team also has some WNBA players on it. Marta Xargay plays for the Phoenix Mercury. Anna Cruz was with the Minnesota Lynx during their WNBA championship season. Astou Ndour has signed with the San Antonio Stars. Plus, Leticia Romero plays for Florida State University. This is a talented team.
But is it talented enough to pull off the biggest upset of the Olympics? Well, I guess we’ll find out together. If you want to join in, just email Hunter.Felt@theguardian.com or tweet @HunterFelt throughout the match and we’ll include your questions, comments, predictions and jokes throughout the match. It’s the US vs Spain in the women’s basketball final. Opening tip is set for 2:30pm EST, but we’ll be back well before then.
Hunter will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s how the US women’s team got on in the semi-finals:
Missing their starting point guard, the US women’s basketball team struggled for a half to find offensive rhythm before pulling away from France and moving one win away from capturing a sixth consecutive gold medal.
Diana Taurasi scored 18 points and Maya Moore added 15 to help the Americans beat France 86-67 on Thursday night in the semi-finals.
It was the closest game of the Olympics for the Americans, who will face Spain on Saturday and advanced without injured guard Sue Bird. Spain and the US played in the preliminary round and the US won that one by 40. The Americans also beat Spain in the 2014 world championship by 13.
Thursday’s game against France was a rematch of the 2012 London Games gold medal contest. The US won that one by 36 points, but had a much harder time in this time without Bird. The point guard sprained her right knee capsule in the quarterfinals and has been listed as day-to-day. She had started every game for the US the past three Olympics and been a calming influence on offense.
