The American women’s basketball delegation faces the last day of the group stage against France with two wins on their locker and endless good feelings. The North Americans seek two more points that classify them as first of group to quarterfinals and that allows them dream of the seventh consecutive gold medal.
The United States, which reaches a new Olympic event as the top favorite, they have not lost a match at the Olympic Games since Barcelona 1992, when the Soviet Union (79-73) separated them from the grand final. China and the Soviet Union itself contested the gold and silver medals, while the North Americans unseated Cuba and took the bronze.
Dawn Stanley’s team have consecutively won the gold medal in Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016. What’s more, whenever the United States has competed in the Olympics, it has achieved a metal: eight gold medals, one silver and one bronze. The North Americans did not contest Moscow 1980 due to political tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union in the framework of the Cold War.
Spain, to avoid the North Americans
Lucas Mondelo’s team beat Canada (66-76) in the last match of the group stage and will reach the quarterfinals as the first in the group with three victories in three games. Presumably, the Spanish will avoid the Americans like this: a win over France would also classify them as group leaders and they might not meet until a hypothetical final.
The United States, with the two victories against Nigeria (72-81) and Japan (86-69), now has 51 consecutive games without losing in the Olympic Games. The authority in international basketball is absolutely overwhelming: only Australia in Athens 2004 has been able to not lose by more than 20 points in the last seven Olympic finals.
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