USA Basketball Original Article 

Led by 30 points from Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury/Baylor/Houston, Texas), the U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team (6-0) claimed a seventh straight Olympic gold medal with a 90-75 win over host Japan (4-2) on Sunday afternoon at Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo.

The USA set a U.S. Olympic women’s single-game team record with 12 blocked shots, and playing on her birthday, A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces/South Carolina/Hopkins, S.C.) tallied five blocks to set an individual U.S. Olympic women’s record to go with her 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Breanna Stewart (Seattle Storm/Connecticut/North Syracuse, N.Y.) had 14 points, 14 rebounds and five assists, and Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury/Connecticut/China, Calif.) added eight assists.

The USA ran ahead to an 18-5 lead, before Japan made its first and second 3-pointers of the first quarter to make it 18-11 at 2:47. After a score from Griner, both sides made a 3, and it was 23-14 in the USA’s favor after the first period.

With the USA trying to capitalize on its size advantage, Griner had 10 points in the first quarter, and the USA was a red-hot 61.1% from the field (11-of-18 FGs).

The second quarter saw the teams go back and forth, and helped by two 3s, Japan cut it to six points, 38-32, at 4:02. The USA put together an 8-0 run to gain some separation, and it was 50-39 at halftime.

Griner added eight in the second period for 18 points in the half. Wilson had six points in the second for 10 by halftime, and at the midway point, Taurasi had six of the USA’s 17 assists.

As a team, the USA had blocked eight shots and kept its hot shooting alive, including 11-of-17 in the second (.647) and 62.9% overall from the field in the first half.

The USA ran away with the game in the third quarter. Japan trailed 52-43 when the USA put together an 18-6 run, and Japan called timeout at 2:33 with the USA lead up to 21 points, 70-49. The USA went on to outscore Japan 25-17 overall in the frame and led 75-56 with 10 minutes to play.

Again in the third, the USA was led by the inside duo of Griner and Wilson, who added eight and seven points in the period, respectively.

The fourth quarter saw Japan outscore the USA 19-15 to bring the game to its 90-75 final.

The USA previously beat Japan 86-69 during the preliminary round on July 30.