Team USA refused to go home without a medal and made it a collective mission to bounce back from a 68-75 loss to Russia which ended their 50-game winning streak in international stints.

Team USA led at halftime 49-34. Then Taurasi suddenly caught fire in the third. She just played for 16 minutes.

Tina Thompson added 15 points. Tamika Catchings scored 11 and also had nine rebounds.

This game is a testament as to how important good field goal shooting and three-point shooting to international games. USA shot a high 56% from the field (39-out-of-70), and 11-of-20 from three point range as opposed to Brazil’s horrible 37% field goal shooting. Brazil also only shot 4-of-20 from beyond the arc.

Houston Comets’ Janeth Arcain led Brazil with 16 points. (pics courtesy of usabasketball.com)

Diana Taurasi scored 21 points and Tina Thompson added 15 for the USA who ended a 50 game winning streak in international tournaments dating back to a bronze medal finish at the 1994 Worlds. They lost to Brazil 107-110 in the semifinals.

Many times in the past, the women’s team accomplished what the men’s team failed to. This time, it’s different. Neither team was able to capture a first place finish. Prior to this semifinal game, USA has had whopping victories against their opponents with an average winning margin of 28.42 points including a ten point victory against Russia in group competition.

Just like their men counterpart, their poor shooting has caught up with them shooting just 46.1% from the line and 36.3% percent from beyond the arc. Also, Russia had one of their best nights, as much as Greece was lucky hitting their outside shots against USA’s men’s team.

However, there is no time for them to mourn over their defeat since they will have to face Brazil in the bronze medal game. They would not want to go home without a medal. They are being led by WNBA All-Stars Sheryl Swoopes, Tina Thompson, Diana Taurasi, Cheryll Ford, Sue Bird and Candace Parker.

Russia will battle unbeaten Australia for the gold medal who boasts of WNBA stars Penny Taylor and Seattle Storm forward Lauren Jackson. (pics courtesy of www.wnba.com, usabasketball.com)

Katie Smith, the league’s all-time scoring leader, did not allow her career to proceed without winning a WNBA title, and she had no plans in forgoing that game five chance. She made two clutch jumpers in the last two minutes including a big three pointer in one of the thrilling Finals ever. She scored 17 points and helped her team win 80-75 against the defending champions Sacramento Monarchs.

She teamed up with Finals MVP Deanna Nolan, who also scored crucial shots en route to a 24 point performance. Will and sheer determination propelled Nolan to lead the Shocks to overcome an eight point deficit in the first half. She found herself open, or should I say, willed herself to be open for those jumpers scoring 10 points in the third quarter alone. She looked like a lady Reggie Miller in that game, fighting thru screens and hitting those open jump shots.

Well, Detroit was totted to have the best starting five in the league with forwards Swin Cash and Cheryl Ford (Karl Malone’s daughter) and guards Smith and Nolan all averaging in double figures for the season. Center Ruth Riley completes the starting five.

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For two crucial games, they came back from 11 and 8 points down at halftime to win the game. They utilized, in both occasions two blistering third quarters to get back in the game. They just wanted the championship more than the Monarchs.

After loosing big time in game one, they were down by 11 at halftime in game two. And they were at their home court at the Palace. Smith then scored 16 second-half points for a 73-63 win.

Hitting open jump shots and scoring in transition is really important to have in a team’s game. And that was just what the Shocks did to win the series. They played good defense, being the second defensive team in the league just allowing a shade over 70 points per game, which resulted to easy fast break points.

And Nolan and Smith have become their take-charge leaders that brought them their second championship ring in four years. Smith drained the last 15 footer in the game and with 14 seconds remaining grabbed the rebound and threw the ball skyward into the air in celebration. She really looked like someone who has never won a championship before, and she haven’t until now! (Pics courtesy of sports.yahoo.com)