THREE IN A ROW

Brittney Griner scored 15 points to help the USA beat Australia 73-56 and win the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup on Sunday in San Cristobal de la Laguna, Spain. It was the third consecutive World Cup title for the USA, something the country had never accomplished. The victory gave the U.S. 10 World Cup gold medals and was the 22nd win in a row overall for the Americans dating to the bronze medal game in 2006. That was the same year that Australia won its only World Cup title. The Americans lost to Russia in the semifinals and haven’t lost since in the World Cup or Olympics. According to USA Basketball, Sue Bird became the first player, male or female, in FIBA World Cup history to earn four gold medals.