RIO DE JANEIRO —
Everywhere Sue Bird looks on the court, there's someone in a U.S. jersey that can score. It's a point guard's dream.
From top to bottom this version of the American Olympic women's basketball team is stacked with offensive weapons. And at the early pace they are scoring at the Rio Games, they might break the 1996 team's record average of 102.4 points a game.
Diana Taurasi scored 13 points and Sylvia Fowles added 12 on Monday as the U.S. posted its second blowout in as many days, beating Spain 103-63 on Monday. That's two consecutive contests the U.S. scored at least 100 points — the last time the Americans did that was in 2004.
"A lot of Olympic teams that I've been on have had offensive power, but now we go all the way down the line to the 12th player," said Bird, who had nine points and five assists in the win. "And the minute you stop there's no let-off. That person comes in and can do just as much offensively as the next. And also, we have our foot on the gas pedal.
"We're trying to get better in every single game and you can't, you can't relax. I know the score is, it is what it is. But we don't relax regardless."
This team is so good offensively that reigning WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne comes off the bench and Tamika Catchings is the 12th player.
"Weapons. We're full of weapons. One through 12, everybody that comes in contributes to some capacity," Catchings said. "And that's offensively, defensively as well. You're talking about 100 points — you've got to be able to score. It's fun. It's fun to watch. It's fun to be a part of. When we move the ball and everybody is just kind of like __ everybody's doing their part __ screening, rolling, cutting to the basket __ you never know where the shot is going to come from. As a team, we're so selfless."
