The United States women have won the last 5 gold medals in basketball, and 7 of the last 8, missing only in 1992. Three US players – Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings, and Diana Taurasi (BCT) – played on the last 3 gold medal winning teams. They are all on the US team for Rio, and could win their 4^th consecutive gold medals in the sport. If they do …

If They Win a Gold Medal in Rio, BCT will …

• Win their 4^th gold medal in basketball, becoming only the 8^th-9^th-10^th women to win 4 gold medals in the same event – after Birgit Fischer-Schmidt (GDR/GER) in kayak fours canoeing (1988, 1996-2004); Isabelle Werth (FRG) in team dressage in equestrian (1992-2000, 2008); Teresa Edwards (USA) in basketball (1984-88, 1996-2000); Lisa Leslie (USA) in basketball (1996-2008); and Jayna Hefford, Hayley Wickenheiser, Caroline Ouellette (CAN) in ice hockey (all 2002-14).
• Become the 5^th-6^th-7th women to win 4 consecutive gold medals in the same Olympic event, equalling Lisa Leslie (USA) in basketball, and Jayna Hefford, Hayley Wickenheiser, Caroline Ouellette (CAN) in ice hockey.
• Become the 5^th-6^th-7th Olympians to win 4 consecutive gold medals in the same Olympic team sport, equalling Leslie, Hefford, Wickenheiser, and Ouellette, as noted above. No male Olympian has achieved this.
• Become the 2^nd-3^rd-4^th USA women to win 4 consecutive gold medals in the same Summer Olympic event, equalling Lisa Leslie in basketball.
• Tie Lisa Leslie and Teresa Edwards for the most Olympic gold medals in basketball, man or woman, with 4.
• Become =4^th among all Olympians, any sport, either gender, by winning 4 gold medals in the same event, trailing only Aladár Gerevich (HUN) in team sabre fencing, with 6; and Reiner Klimke (FRG/GER) in team dressage in equestrian, with 5, and Pál Kovács (HUN) in team sabre fencing.
• Of note, Kerri Walsh-Jennings (USA) may also win her 4^th consecutive gold medal in beach volleyball, matching some of the above most gold medal records.