The United States won the women's world basketball championship title for the eighth time on Sunday, beating home team the Czech Republic 89-69 in the final.
The US, winners of the past four Olympic titles, reclaimed the gold they last won in 2002. In 2006 they fell in the semi-finals to Russia.
The Americans led all the way, holding a 12-point lead (40-28) two minutes before from the break, only for the hosts to claw back to just five points behind (40-35) thanks to the efforts of Hana Horakova (12 points, 5 passes) and Eva Viteckova (7 pts, 5 rebounds).
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The Olympic champions, however, reasserted their advantage three minutes after the break thanks to stalwarts Sue Bird (11 pts, 5 interceptions) and Diana Taurasi (16 pts, 2 interceptions) as they opened up a 20-point cushion that they maintained for the rest of the match.
The top US scorer was Angel McCoughtry (18 pts, 4 rbds).
Earlier, Spain claimed the bronze medal when they beat Belarus 77-68.
Defending champions Australia were eliminated in the quarter-finals by the Czech Republic and finished fifth after their 74-62 win over France.
