Team USA Wins Bronze in Women's Soccer, Enters Gold Medal Match in Women's Basketball

(Photo : JEFF PACHOUD/AFP via Getty Images) USA's forward Carli Lloyd (L) is congratulated by teammates after scoring during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games women's bronze medal football match between Australia and the United States at Ibaraki Kashima Stadium in Kashima city, Ibaraki prefecture on August 5, 2021.

More medals are coming Team USA's way as its women's soccer and women's basketball squads scored critical victories in the knockout stage the past two days at the Tokyo Olympics.

The United States women's national team bounced back from its heartbreaking loss to Canada in the semifinals, beating Australia in a seven-goal thriller to win the bronze medal in Thursday's women's soccer competition.

The Americans also continued their dominance in women's basketball, destroying Serbia in the semifinals on Friday to assure themselves of at least a silver-medal finish here in Tokyo.

Team USA wins bronze in women's soccer

Team USA ended its women's soccer campaign at the Tokyo Olympics on a high note, capturing the bronze medal after a thrilling 4-3 victory over Australia. Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe each scored a brace for the Americans who returned to the podium after missing out on a medal in Rio five years ago.

Rapinoe gave Team USA the early lead with a fantastic goal in the eighth minute, scoring directly from a corner kick. Sam Kerr equalized for Australia nine minutes later, but the joy for the Matildas did not last long.

Rapinoe restored Team USA's lead with a well-struck volley in the 21st minute. Rapinoe now has 61 goals in her international career, passing Shannon MacMillan for 10th in the all-time scoring list for the United States.

Lloyd followed Rapinoe's brace with a double of her own, scoring goals on either side of half-time to surpass the great Abby Wambach as the leading American scorer at the Olympics. The Australians never lost heart despite trailing 4-1 in the second half, slicing the deficit to 4-3 after goals by Caitlin Foord and Emily Gielnik.

The Americans, who were down to 10 players in the closing stages after Alex Morgan's injury, survived the late onslaught to end their golden era in women's soccer with yet another prize. Among the USWNT players expected to retire after the Olympics are Lloyd and Rapinoe, who are already 39 and 36 years old, respectively.

Team USA marches on to finals in women's basketball

There's just no stopping Team USA in women's basketball. The Americans extended their winning streak in the Olympics to 54 games after crushing Serbia in the semifinals, 79-59, to book their place in the gold medal match.

Brittney Griner led the way for Team USA, registering yet another double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Chelsea Gray scored 14 points, while Breanna Stewart also posted a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing ten rebounds.

The Americans started strongly in this contest, building a 25-12 lead after the first quarter. They stretched that advantage to 41-23 at half-time, with Team USA finishing the second quarter on an 11-2 run. Team USA continued their onslaught in the second half, extending their lead to 27 points at one stage in the fourth quarter.