RIO DE JANEIRO -- Geno Auriemma and Diana Taurasi shared a long, emotional embrace. Mission accomplished.The dominant U.S. womens basketball team did what was expected, winning a sixth consecutive Olympic gold medal and doing it in impressive fashion. In yet another rout, the U.S. dismantled Spain 101-72 on Saturday.Taurasi and the Americans played nearly flawless basketball in Rio, and were never challenged. They have won 49 consecutive games in the Olympics with only one of those decided by single digits.Its amazing isnt it? I mean when you think, thats 20 years of 20 years, Auriemma said. You know the first one was 96 and here we are 2016. Its mindboggling when you think about it what this team has been able to accomplish, this program of the USA Basketball program. There is such a level of expectation, theres such a level of respect for the people at the very top.Were doing stuff that may never be done again.Even with that kind of sustained success by some very talented U.S. teams, this may be the best womens basketball squad ever assembled. The team won by nearly 40 points a game, but fell short of the record 102.4 points the 1996 team averaged.But if this isnt the best ever, its close.Taurasi puts the 2016 group at the top of the list.I mean Im not just saying talent-wise. Im not saying margin of victory. Im saying this is the most determined, unselfish team Ive ever been on -- hands down, the four-time gold medalist said.There never really was any doubt that the U.S. would win the gold in Rio. The only question was by how much.Still, closure to their journey Saturday had Auriemma and Taurasi both fighting back tears.I think it was a very emotional time. When youre around these players and youre around Sue (Bird)and Diana and Tamika (Catchings), and you know that this maybe their last and youre able to send them out, its like graduating seniors back home, Auriemma said. And at the same time, youve got three young players whove never been here before. They get to go home with their first gold medal ever.Theres just a lot of emotions running through our team and running through our locker room.Unlike their semifinal win over France when the Americans looked discombobulated for a half, the U.S. was more fluid offensively. It helped having Bird back in the lineup. The four-time gold medalist and team captain missed the semifinal game with a sprained right knee capsule. She wasnt 100 percent Saturday, but was good enough.The U.S., which beat Spain by 40 in a preliminary round game, got off to a slow start and only led 21-17 after the first quarter. The Americans were up 27-24 in the second quarter before getting going.Auriemma turned to something very familiar to him to spark the Americans.The UConn coach put his five former Huskie players on the court at the same time for the first time in the Olympics and that group started the 16-3 run that blew it open. Breanna Stewart got the spurt started with two free throws. Taurasi then hit consecutive 3-pointers -- her first points of the game -- as the Americans scored 10 straight.By the time Lindsay Whalens layup just beat the halftime buzzer, the U.S. led 49-32 and Spain had just two baskets in the final 6:55 of the half. Whalen finished the game with 17 points, tied for the team lead with Taurasi.Spain never threatened in the second half. Auriemma started the fourth quarter with Bird, Taurasi and Catchings on the court and the game in hand. The three four-time Olympians have had a tremendous impact on USA Basketball over the past 12 years. He took the trio out together for one final time with 5:44 left in the game.Auriemma had said from the start this group was on a mission that is now complete.Even with the loss, Spain earned its first Olympic medal in womens basketball. Serbia topped France for the Bronze. The Spaniards have been on the rise lately, also winning a silver medal at the 2014 world championship. They are hosting the 2018 worlds.Im glad that we could compete like the first quarter. We were close, but its a team like its a dream team, Silvia Dominguez said. The best team in the world, they showed that.They did, and the gold medal game was just like the rest of this tournament, all about the U.S.No American team has been deeper with Catchings as its 12th player. They trailed for just over 11 minutes in the entire Olympics and the biggest deficit was just four points -- 6-2 to France. They never were down after the first quarter and with the exception of the semifinal win over France all the games were pretty much after 20 minutes.Its been quite a run for this group, which features 12 players with a combined 29 Olympic gold medals -- the most ever for any team.This game marked the end of Catchings Olympic career. She is retiring at the end of the WNBA season. Taurasi and Bird have hinted that this will be their final Olympics although both could still return in four years in Tokyo. The trio joined Lisa Leslie and Teresa Edwards as the only Olympians to win four gold medals.Even if the three players dont wear the red, white and blue again, the future remains bright for the U.S. Elena Delle Donne, Brittney Griner and Stewart all won their first Olympic golds. Maya Moore, Tina Charles and Angel McCoughtry should be back in 2020 as well, providing a solid nucleus for USA Basketball to build on.---Online:AP Summer Games website: http://summergames.ap.org/---Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg Cheap Old Skool Vans For Sale . Hamelin, who triumphed in the 500 on Saturday, edged out Victor An of Russia by 0.021 seconds to maintain his lead in the World Cup standings. Russias Vladimir Grigorev was third. In the relay, Canada took control six laps from the finish line to beat Russia and the Netherlands. Vans Old Skool Ireland Online . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. http://www.saleoldskoolireland.com/ . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. Vans Old Skool Ireland . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. Buy Vans Old Skool Ireland .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.Manchester United missed out on signing Renato Sanches from Benfica after showing hesitancy over the potential transfer, sources close to the deal have told Sky Sports News HQ. It is understood Benfica were keen to sell Sanches before Portugal announced their Euro 2016 squad, in case the 18 year-old was not included, fearing his potential omission would have an adverse effect on his transfer value.Sky sources have revealed Sanches would have agreed to join Manchester United if they had come to an agreement with Benfica. Sanches is regarded as the brightest prospect to emerge in Portugal since Cristiano Ronaldo, and he was keen to follow in his compatriots footsteps by moving to Old Trafford. The players agent, Jorge Mendes, was aware of Uniteds interest, and was ready to do a deal with Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward. However, with pressure increasing from Benfica to sell the player before the Portuguese squad announcement, Sky Sports News HQ has been told Mendes was not able to stall other interested clubs long enough while United deliberated over whether or not to make a bid. Renato Sanches, 18, is seen as one of the most promising prospects in football Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich took advantage of Uniteds apparent indecision by agreeing a deal to sign the midfielder for an initial fee of £27.5m (35m euros) earlier this week. The fee could reach in excess of £35m (45m euros) depending on bonuses, including Sanches being named World Player of the Year during his time at Bayern.Manchester United sources reiterated to Sky Sports News HQ that whilst they scouted Sanches extensively, manager Louis Van Gaal did not approve the signing, and the club therefore opted to pursue other targets instead. Who is Renato Sanches? Profile of Renato Sanches of Benfica It remains unclear why Van Gaal vetoed the signing of Sanches, if that was indeed the case.dddddddddddd Whilst the transfer fee was relatively high for a player who is still only considered an emerging talent, United demonstrated a willingness to recruit a player in similar circumstances last summer when signing Anthony Martial from Monaco. He was bought for an initial £36m, making him the most expensive teenager in football history.Barcelona were also known to be admirers of Sanches, who only signed a new contract with Benfica in November, which included a release clause of £35m (45m euros). Bayern sign Sanches and Hummels Bayern Munich sign Renato Sanches and Mats Hummels Speaking about the Sanches transfer, Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: Were pleased weve been able to sign him despite big-name international competition. Renato Sanches is a dynamic, technically-gifted midfielder who is strong in the tackle and will strengthen our squad.Bayern deputy chairman Jan-Christian Dreesen added: The transfer fee for the current international, who was voted the Shooting Star of Portuguese Football in his home country yesterday evening (Monday), is 35m euros, plus possible bonus payments that could become due if for example the player is named in the World Team of the Year or FIFA World Player of the Year. Also See: Who is Renato Sanches? Bayern sign Sanches and Hummels Transfer Centre LVG: United not met targets ' ' '