Head coach Dawn Staley of Team United States reacts against France during the first half of a Women's Basketball Preliminary Round Group B game on day 10 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on Monday, August 2, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/TNS)
The U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team is one of the most dominant dynasties in all of sports. Here are the numbers to prove it.
Fifth gold within reach for Bird, Taurasi
Basketball and UConn legends Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi are joining an exclusive club of basketball athletes who have played in five Olympic games. That group of eight athletes in all features U.S. basketball legend Teresa Edwards, who won four Olympic golds and one bronze with Team USA.
But the duo are also within reach making history by becoming the first basketball athletes to win five Olympic golds. There are four other Olympians (in fencing and equestrian) who have taken home at least five golds in the same event or discipline.
Bird, who was named one of the Team USA’s flag bearers Wednesday, is already the most decorated FIBA athlete in the world with a combined nine Olympic and World Cup medals, one ahead of Taurasi and Edwards.
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11 have won all four major championships
U.S. Olympians don’t just take care of business on the international stage but domestically as well.
Eleven players in the program’s history, including four on the current Olympic team, have won an Olympic gold, FIBA World Cup gold, WNBA title and NCAA championship, including Bird, Stewart, Taurasi, Swin Cash, Tamika Catchings, Cynthia Cooper, Asjha Jones, Brittney Griner, Maya Moore, Sheryl Swoopes and Kara Wolters.
Head coach Dawn Staley of Team United States reacts against France during the first half of a Women's Basketball Preliminary Round Group B game on day 10 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on Monday, August 2, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/TNS)
