Buzzer-beater by Anna Cruz helps Spain into Olympic semifinals

Anna Cruz, who took this year off from the WNBA and the Lynx to help Spain into the Olympics, made the game-winning shot to put her team one win away from a guaranteed medal.

August 17, 2016 at 2:28AM
Spain's Anna Cruz (15) celebrates her winning shot over Turkey during a women's quarterfinal round basketball game at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Spain's Anna Cruz (15) celebrates her winning shot over Turkey during a women's quarterfinal round basketball game at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) (Brian Stensaas — Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The last time Lynx fans saw Anna Cruz she grabbed the microphone during the WNBA championship victory party last fall and gave a simple message before leaving early.

"Thank you for everything. Bye. Adios!" she told the crowd on the way out to catch a flight back to Spain to begin preparations for the Olympics.

So far, things are working out for Cruz in Rio.

After completing a "dream" by winning the title last season Cruz elected not to return to the roster this fall - and maybe not at all this season.

It appears she made the right choice.

After Tuesday, the Spaniards are one win away from a guaranteed medal - thanks to their 29-year-old spitfire point guard.

Cruz put the finishing touches on a big comeback by Spain against Turkey in the quarterfinals. It was capped when Cruz took an inbounds pass and dribbled passed midcourt through traffic. With the final seconds ticking away in the tie ballgame, Cruz got off a running jumper on one leg as time expired.

Swish.

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Spain will play Serbia on Thursday with the winner headed to the gold medal game.

Until then, congratulatory tweets from NBA players should provide plenty of motivation for further heroics.

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about the writer

about the writer

Brian Stensaas

Multiplatform Editing Team Leader

Brian Stensaas has been with the Minnesota Star Tribune since 2004. He is a Multiplatform Editing Team Leader, with reporting experience covering high school sports, the NHL, NBA and professional golf.

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