Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi made history on Sunday, becoming the first basketball players to win five Olympic gold medals. At 40 years old, Bird also set a record as the oldest basketball player ever to win gold.
Bird, who has said this is her last Olympics with Team USA, finished with seven points, three rebounds and three assists in Team USA’s 90-75 win over Japan. Taurasi, playing through a nagging hip injury in Tokyo, notched seven points, six rebounds and eight assists.
"It's not just about us. It's about all the players that have either set the stage or those that are on it right now."Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi after winning the seventh consecutive Olympic gold medal for women's @usabasketball. #TokyoOlympics #OlympicHERstory pic.twitter.com/uxq3GmBzur— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
"It's not just about us. It's about all the players that have either set the stage or those that are on it right now."Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi after winning the seventh consecutive Olympic gold medal for women's @usabasketball. #TokyoOlympics #OlympicHERstory pic.twitter.com/uxq3GmBzur
“It’s been a tremendous journey,” Taurasi said, adding, “It’s never easy playing on this team, the pressure, but this group found a way to win, and I am just happy that this group got to enjoy it.”
Following the game, Bird said she “couldn’t have asked for a better ending” with Team USA: “Hopefully we’ve left a legacy with the younger players where they now can carry that torch.”