Tokyo Olympics schedule: U.S. takes on Serbia for chance at women's basketball gold-medal game
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The U.S. women's basketball team has two things at stake during its Friday semifinal: a win streak dating back to 1992 and a chance at a gold-medal.
With four wins under their belt in Tokyo, the Americans are extending a 53-game Olympic win streak that started with their bronze-medal win over Cuba at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. And should they make it to the final, they'll have a chance at a seventh consecutive gold, the same record of their male counterparts.
But first, the U.S. women must defeat Serbia, which won a close quarterfinal over China 77-70 and is 3-1 at the Games. The Serbians were the 2016 Rio bronze medalists.
Though the U.S. hasn't been as dominant as usual these Games, it has some things going in its favor. The women beat Serbia 88-69 in an Olympic qualifying tournament in 2020. They're also coming off an electrifying 79-55 quarterfinal victory over Australia after losing to the Opals in a July exhibition game.
While multi-time Olympians like Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi are still rostered, younger stars have stepped up for the U.S. in Tokyo. A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and Brittney Griner combined for 48 points in the quarterfinal. Wilson also had a standout performance in the team's preliminary win against Japan.
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How to watch
All times are Eastern
NBC: 12 p.m. to 2 a.m.
USA: 24-hour coverage
CNBC: 24-hour coverage
NBCSN: 24-hour coverage
Olympic Channel: 24-hour coverage
Golf Channel: 7 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Peacock: 6 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Biggest Events
All times are Eastern
4:30 p.m.: Track and field -- men's 50km walk (NBCSN)
6:30 p.m.: Golf -- women's third round (Golf Channel)
10 p.m.: Women's beach volleyball gold medal match (NBC); Wrestling finals (Olympic Channel)
Midnight: Women's volleyball semifinal -- U.S. vs. Serbia (USA)
12:40 a.m.: Women's basketball semifinal -- United States vs. Serbia (NBC)
5 a.m.: Men's soccer -- bronze-medal game, Japan vs. Mexico (USA)
6 a.m.: Field hockey -- women's final (USA); Track and field finals -- women's javelin throw, men's 5000m, women's 400m, women's 1500m, women's 4x400m, men's 4x100m (Peacock)
8 a.m.: Women's soccer -- gold-medal game, Canada vs. Sweden (USA)
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Contact Emily Leiker at eleiker@usatoday.com or on Twitter @emleiker.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2021 Olympic schedule Day 14: U.S. in women's basketball semifinal