“Couldn’t have asked for a better ending.
With Bird orchestrating the flow of games and Taurasi’s scoring, they have been a constant force for the U.S., providing stability for the women’s program since the 2004 Athens Games.
The pair walked off the court Sunday arm-in-arm for the last time, knowing their work was done.
Japan was able to get within six in the second quarter before the Americans went up 11 at the half and never looked back.
Wilson, who celebrated her 25th birthday on Sunday, made her presence felt in her Olympic debut, scoring 19 points in the gold medal game.
Japan’s biggest player was 6-foot-1 — no match for the imposing front line led by Griner, who is 6-9.
While the general public and family members couldn’t attend the games because of the coronavirus pandemic, Bird did have fiancee Megan Rapinoe in the stands cheering her on.
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