It marked an unprecedented fifth gold medal for Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, who have played together since they were student-athletes at the University of Connecticut.
“The fact that I was able to contribute to three of their five, just being under their leadership, their guidance, just a friendship that was developed over the years, that’s what made it special,” said Charles.
The team, loaded with WNBA talent, did not dominate throughout the Olympic tournament as it had in the past.
“I think we saved our best performance for last,” said head coach Dawn Staley, who made history as the first Black female head coach to win gold in Olympic basketball and the first person to win gold as a player and coach.
Bird said winning an Olympic gold medal is never easy, but the circumstances of the past year and the need for these Games to go without spectators, friends and family made this even more difficult.
Taurasi, who like Bird has battled injuries over the course of her career, said it has been a long journey.
No one stepped up more in the final game than Brittney Griner, who was relentless in the post, scoring 30 points to earn her second gold medal.