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US women's basketball: Fourth title in a row
Photo:
Mark Baker/AP
The basketball players from the USA lived up to their role as favorites and stormed to their eleventh World Cup gold.
The record winner beat China 83:61 (43:33) in the final in Sydney and triumphed for the fourth time in a row.
This means that the Olympic champions have not been defeated at the World Championships for 30 games.
After the demonstration in the semi-finals against overwhelmed Canadians (83:43), the US team around star player Breanna Stewart only had slight problems with China in the beginning in the Superdome.
After the break, Kelsey Plum provided the first 20-point lead (63:43/29th minute), the defending champion around top scorer A'ja Wilson (19 points) created clear conditions early on.
Plum got 17 points.
Before the final, Australia secured bronze in the small final against Canada with a 95:65 (51:43).
Lauren Jackson, who set the record with her 43rd World Cup appearance, was the hosts' top scorer with 30 points.
After the game, the 41-year-old ended her career in the Opals jersey.
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