Former Florida All-American Heather Mitts anchored the defense that helped the U.S. Olympic Soccer Team defeat Brazil, 1-0, in extra time and capture the gold medal, the 10^th medal collected by a Gator during the 2008 Games. Also in action was the U.S. Women's Basketball Team featuring DeLisha Milton-Jones, which advanced to the gold-medal game on Thursday.

Soccer

Former Florida All-American Heather Mitts made her sixth consecutive start and anchored the defense that helped the U.S. Olympic Soccer Team defeat Brazil, 1-0, in extra time and capture the gold medal at Beijing’s Workers’ Stadium on Thursday.

It's the second Olympic Gold Medal for Mitts, who was on the 2004 U.S. squad that defeated Brazil, 2-1, in Athens, where former Gator great Abby Wambach scored the game-winner in overtime. Wambach was selected to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team, but broke her leg shortly before the start of the tournament forced her to the sideline.

Since women’s soccer was added to the Olympic program in 1996, the U.S. is the only team that has advanced to all four Olympic Finals, and for the second consecutive time played Brazil with the gold medal on the line. The U.S. has won three gold medals in Olympic competition.

Basketball

Former Gator great DeLisha Milton-Jones and the 2008 U.S. Women's Olympic Team (7-0) overcame a 16-13 first quarter deficit and battled back for a one-point lead at halftime before it closed the third period with a 15-2 run that propelled the USA past Russia (5-2) 67-52 and into Saturday's gold medal game.

The USA's opponent in the Olympic final will be Australia (7-0), which defeated China, 90-56, in the other semifinal game.

Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury) led all scorers with 21 points, followed by 15 points from Tina Thompson (Houston Comets).

The defending Olympic champs, the USA women in fact will be vying for a fourth consecutive Olympic gold. Since women's basketball was officially staged at the 1976 Olympics, the Americans have collected a record five gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal, and now own a 48-3 (.941) overall record in eight Olympic appearances (the United States chose not to participate in the 1980 Olympic Games).

2008 Gator Medal Count: 10   (3 Gold, 4 Silver, 3 Bronze) 

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