U.S. women's basketball team wins gold

RIO DE JANEIRO — Geno Auriemma and Diana Taurasi shared a long, emotional embrace. Mission accomplished.

The dominant U.S. women’s basketball team did what was expected, winning a sixth consecutive Olympic gold medal and doing it in impressive fashion. In yet another rout, the U.S. dismantled Spain 101-72 on Saturday.

Taurasi and the Americans played nearly flawless basketball in Rio, and were never challenged. They have won 49 consecutive games in the Olympics with only one of those decided by single digits.

“It’s amazing isn’t it? I mean when you think, that’s 20 years of 20 years,” Auriemma said. “You know the first one was 96 and here we are 2016. It’s mindboggling when you think about it what this team has been able to accomplish, this program of the USA Basketball program. There is such a level of expectation, there’s such a level of respect for the people at the very top.

“We’re doing stuff that may never be done again.”