2021 Olympics: U.S. women’s volleyball beats Brazil for first ever gold medal

The U.S. women’s volleyball team won the first Olympic gold medal in its history Sunday with a 3-0 straight sets victory against Brazil in the final.

The U.S. capped a dominant Games with a 25-21, 25-20, 25-14 victory. Jordan Larson’s final point secured the gold, and for the fourth consecutive game, Andrea Drews led the U.S. in points (15). Michelle Bartsch-Hackley added 14.

The U.S. avenged its losses in the 2008 and 2012 final to Brazil, who had won two of the last three Olympic gold medals until Sunday. The U.S. did so with star opposite hitter Jordan Thompson out for the fourth consecutive match with an ankle injury. Thompson was the leading scorer in the tournament before her injury against the Russian Olympic Committee.

The U.S. capped its historic tournament without dropping a set in the knockout rounds, sweeping the Dominican Republic, Serbia and Brazil 9-0.

“I’m just so happy for this team, these amazing women and this program,” U.S. coach Karch Kiraly said.

(Photo: Toru Hanai / Getty Images)