Sports

Texans In Tokyo: U.S. Women's Volleyball, Basketball Win Semifinal, Play For Gold As Games Wind Down

KERA | By Hady Mawajdeh

Published August 6, 2021 at 10:09 AM CDT

As we enter the final days of the Tokyo Olympics, the Americans lead all countries with 96 total medals. China has the highest number of gold medals, 34. But the U.S. women's basketball and volleyball teams both won semifinal games that allow them to play for gold. Plus, the U.S. men's baseball and basketball teams are also playing for gold.

Here's a look at everything you need to know about the Texans in Tokyo on Aug. 6:

Baseball

The U.S. men's baseball team is taking on the home country, Japan.

Tune in to Saturday's game at 5 p.m. CT to see whether they'll bring home a gold or silver medal.

Basketball

On Thursday, Team USA's women's basketball team defeated Serbia in the Olympic semifinal by a score of 79-59.

The victory brings the team one step closer to winning their seventh consecutive gold medal. And Thursday's win is the 54th consecutive victory for Team USA's women's basketball team in Olympic play. (The streak dates back to 1992.)

The semifinal victory featured all 12 players on the roster, but Baylor Bear Brittney Griner led the team with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

In a postgame interview, Team USA coach Dawn Staley said getting Griner is and will continue to be a strategy the team plans to ride to a gold medal victory.

"She's in great shape, and she wants the ball. She's very competitive and wants to do well. And when all those things are lining up, you play your best basketball and she's playing her best Olympic basketball," Staley said.

Saturday's Olympic final against either Japan is at 9:30 p.m. CT.

United States' players celebrate their win in the men's basketball semifinal game against Australia at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Unlike the U.S. women's basketball team, the men started the Olympic tournament surrounded by doubt because of losses in preliminary games (and a roster filled with first-time Olympians).

But they've shaken off skeptics, come together as a team, and locked in on defense in order to make it to the gold medal game.

Watch them take on France tonight at 9:30 p.m. CT.

Diving

Texas Longhorn Jordan Windle participated in the preliminary heat for the Men's 10m platform diving competition on Friday. He placed 15th and will move onto semifinal.

The semifinals take place on Friday, and Windle takes the diving board at 8 p.m. CT.

Track & Field

Team United States celebrates winning the silver medal in the final of the women's 4 x 100-meter relay at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Tokyo.(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Texas Longhorns Teahna Daniels and Gabby Thomas made up one-half of the Women's 4x100-meter relay team. And Friday morning, they secured a silver medal running the race in 41.45 seconds.

Jamaica claimed gold in this event.

First-place finisher Aliphine Tuliamuk, center, second-place finisher Molly Seidel, left, and third-place finisher Sally Kipyego, right, celebrate on the podium after running the women's U.S. Olympic marathon trials, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Texas Tech graduate Sally Kipyego is competing in the marathon event today at 5 p.m. CT, and tomorrow, she'll be running in the 10,000-meter race at 5:45 a.m. CT.

This is Kipyego's second trip to the Olympics. She won silver in 2012. Kipyego's also a nine-time NCAA champion.

Kipyego placed third during the Olympic trials for the marathon event in April 2020. So it wouldn't be too surprising to see her bring home at least one medal before the games conclude on Sunday.

Volleyball

The U.S. women's indoor volleyball team defeated Serbia on Thursday to advance to the gold medal game. They'll play against Brazil tomorrow at 11:30 p.m. CT.

Got a tip? Email Hady Mawajdeh at hady@KERA.org. You can follow Hady on Twitter @hadysauce.

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