GOLD AT LAST! U.S. Women Beat Brazil to Win Olympic Crown

TOKYO (Aug. 8, 2021) – The U.S. Women’s National Team left no doubts as to who the Olympic champion is.

The U.S. Women made history on Sunday, sweeping longtime rival Brazil for their first Olympic gold medal, 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-14) at Ariake Arena in Tokyo.

OFFICIAL STATISTICS * TEAM STATISTICS * MEDIA GUIDE*USA VOLLEYBALL MATCH CENTER

Three-time Olympian Jordan Larson was named the Olympic Most Valuable Player and best outside hitter of the Dream Team.

Michelle Bartsch-Hackley was named the other Best Outside Hitter. Haleigh Washington was named Best Middle Blocker. Jordyn Poulter was named Best Setter and Justine Wong-Orantes was named Best Libero.

“I had immense confidence that our team was going to execute,” Larson said. “We had a game plan, and everybody stuck to it. I don’t know if the words will come. I am still in a state of shock.

“We’ve just had to deal with a lot of adversity. The fact that we are going to walk away with a medal, I think it’s something to celebrate.”

Before Sunday, the U.S. Women (7-1) had won three Olympic silver medals and two bronze.

“Five medals out of the 11 Olympics, but no gold,” said U.S. Head Coach Karch Kiraly, who was asked why he cried after the match. “It was a very powerful emotion that overcame me to help this program in this 12^th Olympics finally become Olympic champion.”

Kiraly won two Olympic gold medals as a men’s indoor player and one more playing on the beach. He found more satisfaction with Sunday’s win.

“I think it was more powerful for me today than when I was a player because the first Olympics I played in, we won. We didn’t come close and lose. It makes it taste and feel much more special when you go through the hard times.”

Larson and three-time Olympian Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson both now have medals of each color.

Against Brazil, opposite Annie Drews led all scorers with 15 points on a match-high 14 kills and one block. Outside hitter Bartsch-Hackley added 14 points on 11 kills, two blocks and one ace. Larson scored 12 points on 12 kills.

The U.S. Women led Brazil in kills (46-32), blocks (8-6) and aces (2-1). Poulter, who came back from an ankle injury suffered during pool play to set in the semifinals and finals, helped her team to a .418 hitting efficiency.

“Honestly, the last three matches we’ve been so focused on the task at hand; focused on the point at hand,” Poulter said. “For us to be able to sweep in the quarters, in the semis and in the finals, I think it just shows how locked in we were and how ready we were.”

Brazil, who was missing starting opposite Tandara Caixeta after she reportedly tested positive for a banned substance, hit .183.

Libero Justine Wong-Orantes was credited with a team-leading seven digs and 12 successful receptions.

Among the United States’ other scorers, middle blocker Haleigh Washington had a match-high three blocks to go with five kills Akinradewo scored five points on four kills and one block. Poulter scored one point with a kill and serving specialist Kim Hill had one point with an ace.

U.S. Women’s Roster for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020

1Micha Hanco*ck(S, 5-11, Edmond, Okla., Penn State Univ.)
2Jordyn Poulter(S, 6-2, Aurora, Colo., Univ. of Illinois)
4Justine Wong-Orantes(L, 5-6, Cypress, Calif., Univ. of Nebraska)
10Jordan Larson(OH, 6-2, Hooper, Neb., Univ. of Nebraska)
11Annie Drews(OPP, 6-4, Elkhart, Ind., Purdue Univ.)
12Jordan Thompson(OPP, 6-4, Edina, Minn., Univ. of Cincinnati)
14Michelle Bartsch-Hackley(OH, 6-3, Champaign, Ill., Univ. of Illinois)
15Kim Hill(OH, 6-4, Portland, Ore., Pepperdine, Univ.)
16Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson(M, 6-3, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Stanford Univ.)
22Haleigh Washington(M, 6-3, Colorado Springs, Colo., Penn State Univ.)
23Kelsey Robinson(OH, 6-2, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Univ. of Nebraska)
24Chiaka Ogbogu(M, 6-2, Coppell, Texas, Univ. of Texas)

Head CoachKarch Kiraly
Asst. CoachErin Virtue
Asst. CoachTama Miyashiro
Asst. CoachLuka Slabe
Performance AnalystJeff Liu
Sport Physiologist & Team LeaderJimmy Stitz
Physical Therapist & ATCKara Kessans
Consultant CoachSue Enquist
Consultant CoachMarv Dunphy
Team Doctor Dr. Chris Lee
Second Scout Justin Chang

Olympic Schedule (All times PT)
Jul 24: USA def Argentina, 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-20)
July 26: USA def China, 3-0 (29-27, 25-22, 25-21)
July 29: USA def Turkey, 3-2 (25-19, 25-20, 17-25, 20-25, 15-12)
July 30: Russian Olympic Committee def USA, 3-0 (25-20, 25-12, 25-19)
Aug. 1: USA def Italy, 3-2 (21-25, 25-16, 25-27, 25-16, 15-12)
Aug. 3: QF USA def Dominican Republic, 3-0 (25-11, 25-20, 25-19)
Aug. 5: SF USA def Serbia, 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-23)
Aug. 7: USA def Brazil, 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-14)