There are precious few days left at the Olympic Games, and the U.S. women’s basketball team is one step closer to another gold medal.
Team USA’s frontcourt duo of Breanna Stewart and Brittney Griner combined for 27 points and 22 rebounds as America cruised past Serbia 79-59 to advance to the gold-medal game (10:30 p.m. ET Saturday) against the winner of Japan vs. France.
They hope to be among the last USA squads to bring home the gold. One duo that did: the A-Team, April Ross and Alix Klineman.
Ross and Klineman capped their Olympic run with a gold medal in beach volleyball, defeating the Australian duo of Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar 21-15, 21-16.
Americans could win gold medals and both men’s and women’s golf. After Xander Schauffele won the men’s title, Nelly Korda holds a three-shot lead in the women’s tournament entering the fourth round, which is set to be played as early as possible Saturday before a tropical storm in the forecast is scheduled to arrive.
Here’s all the best action from Tokyo:
Rushing to the gold-medal game
The U.S. women’s basketball team will officially have a chance to extend its dynasty and win its seventh straight Olympic gold medal.
Breanna Stewart and Brittney Griner both recorded double-doubles, while Sue Bird filled out the score sheet with eight points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals as America defeated Serbia 79-59 to reach the gold-medal game.
This pass from @DianaTaurasi is just RIDICULOUS. #OlympicHERstory x @OnHerTurf pic.twitter.com/fdT7oD8yg3
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) August 6, 2021
The U.S., which hasn’t lost an Olympic game since the 1992 Games (when America won bronze), will play the winner of Japan and France at 10:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.
A-Team wins a gold
The USA is atop the beach volleyball world again. The A-Team of April Ross and Alix Klineman swept Australia’s duo of Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar 21-15, 21-16 as the U.S. won the gold medal for the fourth time in the past five Olympics.
CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH! 🥇
The A-Team of @AprilRossBeach and @alixklineman is GOLDEN in beach volleyball #TokyoOlympics x @TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/zxBfQOtZ6w
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 6, 2021
Ross won a silver medal with Jennifer Kessy in 2012, losing to Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings in the final. In 2016, she teamed with Walsh Jennings but ultimately won bronze.
Wow! You did it Ladies, Congratulations! @AprilRossBeach and @alixklineman , you Deserve the Gold! You Brought your “A” Game to the A-team! USA All the Way, you made Us Proud! @NBCOlympics @TeamUSA @usavolleyball @USAVBeach #gold #theAteam
— Mr. T (@MrT) August 6, 2021
Another USA volleyball win
Ross and Klineman’s victory on the sand wasn’t the only American volleyball win. The U.S. women won their indoor volleyball match against Serbia in straight sets, advancing to the gold-medal match against the winner of Brazil and South Korea (12:30 a.m. ET Sunday).
So nice, you have to watch it twice. @bartschy x #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/Wqfe5lRtC4
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 6, 2021
Biles returns home
Simone Biles, fresh off winning a silver in the team all-around and bronze in the individual balance beam, returned home to Houston to a rousing welcome.
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Simone Biles returns to Houston from Tokyo to a crowd of family, friends and fans at the airport.
One more backflip in store?
Gable Steveson, an NCAA wrestling champion at 285 pounds, will have a chance to win gold in the men’s freestyle at 125kg. He is known for celebrating his victories with a backflip — which is impressive for anyone, let alone a wrestler of his size. Does he have one more celebration in store?
Gable Steveson became NCAA wrestling champion at 285 lbs. Casual backflip. pic.twitter.com/6xZCpD2L4N
— BroBible (@BroBible) March 21, 2021
Nailed it
Details are key — especially when it comes to nails. And some U.S. stars, from Simone Biles to Alex Morgan, represented the red, white and blue on their fingertips.
…Let’s continue this discussion. pic.twitter.com/sUT10IGXRj
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 5, 2021
