First-time Olympian Elena Delle Donne got her first taste of gold as the United States women's basketball team won gold for the sixth straight Olympics.
The Americans defeated Spain, 101-72, in the gold-medal game Saturday in Rio, claiming gold for the eighth time in 11 Olympic women's basketball tournaments. The U.S. went undefeated in the tournament, averaging a stunning 102.1 points in eight victories.
Saturday, Diana Taurasi and Lindsay Whalen each dropped a team-high 17 points, Taurasi hitting five 3-pointers. Maya Moore had 14 points, and Breanna Stewart scored 11 points.
Delle Donne, the Chicago Sky star and reigning WNBA MVP, scored 10 points in 16 minutes.
Delle Donne was one of three players on the team — along with Brittney Griner and Stewart — playing in her first Olympics. The other nine players on the roster were at least all members of the 2012 gold medal-winning team in London.
Three players — Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings and Taurasi — matched American Olympic records by winning four gold medals and four consecutive gold medals. They are three of five American players to win four medals in women's basketball and three of seven female players overall. Only Teresa Edwards has more medals in women's basketball with five (four golds, one bronze). Only two men's basketball players have won four Olympic medals. Carmelo Anthony will become the third (and first American) regardless of the result of Sunday's men's gold-medal game between the U.S. and Serbia.
The Americans have won the gold medal in every women's Olympic tournament but one since 1984.