The women of Team USA earned 10 gold medals at the Olympic and Paralympic Games Rio 2016 in team events that they are eager to defend at this summer's Tokyo Games. U.S. women have a deep history of succeeding and dominating in women's team sports and the Tokyo Games will be no exception.
Here's a look at the 10 teams:
The U.S. women's basketball team has won every Olympic gold medal since the Atlanta 1996 Games, demonstrating unprecedented dominance in the sport. In 2016, the U.S. captured its eighth gold medal, and is expected to return a strong contingent of veterans this year, with several exciting newcomers as well.
Like their Olympic counterparts, the women's wheelchair basketball team looks to remain atop the Paralympic podium. The U.S. has already named a team of six veterans and six Paralympic newcomers. At the Parapan American Games Lima 2019, the United States came up short in a three-point loss to Canada, and will look to avenge that loss at the Paralympic Games.
In gymnastics, the U.S. has won every women's title at the world championships and Olympic Games since 2011. Likely to be led by Simone Biles, the sport's most decorated athlete in world championships history, watch for a third straight Olympic gold here.
The U.S. rowing team had been on a tear in the women's eight, claiming every world and Olympic title from 2006 through 2016. While the boat has struggled to find consistency in the three world championships held since Rio, a fourth Olympic gold this year would make Team USA the first country since the boat was added to the Olympic program in 1976 to win four in a row.
In sports like swimming and track and field, Team USA has historically been able to pair up talented individuals to form impressive relay teams. Both the U.S. women's 4x200-meter freestyle and 4x100 medley swimming teams are seeking a third consecutive Olympic gold. On the track, the women's 4x100 team is also going for its third in a row, while the U.S. has won the last six golds in the 4x400.
After having won two silvers and a bronze since its Paralympic debut in 2004, the U.S. women's sitting volleyball team won the program's first Paralympic gold four years ago and is eager to repeat that feat in Tokyo.
Finally, the women's water polo had also won a string of silver and bronze medals before claiming its first Olympic title in 2012 and repeating in 2016. With a stronghold on every major title in the sport, Team USA is a favorite to three-peat in Tokyo.
Click below for photos of these winning teams.
