CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The United States won the gold medal in what some would call a sweep basketball after they defeated Japan, 90-75 in the women's final Saturday night.
The U.S. won its seventh consecutive women's basketball gold medal, a feat that would match the U.S. men's team that accomplished the same from 1936-68. South Carolina native A'ja Wilson and University of South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley will lead the Americans in Saturday's game.
Team USA defeated Serbia in the semifinals, while Japan beat France to reach the gold medal game. A win would not only give the U.S. a seventh consecutive gold in women's hoops, but it would give teammates Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi five gold medals apiece, setting the record for the most gold medals by a basketball player in the Olympics.
Staley has led South Carolina to three NCAA Final Fours and the 2017 NCAA Championship. As a player, Staley won three Olympic gold medals with the United States. She is undefeated as the head coach of Team USA.
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