On Oct. 1, Team USA won a fourth consecutive World Cup gold and 11th overall behind an 83-61 victory over China in the final of the women's basketball tournament in Sydney in front of a pro-China crowd, ESPN reported.
Just five players from the Tokyo Olympic team that won a seventh consecutive gold suited up in Sydney; those not on this year's team included Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Sylvia Fowles, Tina Charles and, of course, Brittney Griner. Instead, the team that took the floor featured just one 30-year-old and six newcomers to the senior national team at this level of competition.
The U.S. has dropped just one game in a major international competition (World Cup or Olympic play) since 1994: the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup against Russia. China made its first World Cup final appearance since 1994, also the last time it won a medal at a major international competition.
Host nation Australia took home the bronze behind a 95-65 win over Canada; former WNBA MVP and champion Lauren Jackson, who un-retired from the sport and is playing at 41, scored 30 points for the Aussies. Team USA's A'ja Wilson was named World Cup MVP.