TEAM USA ROUTS PUERTO RICO FOR TOP SEED IN MEDAL ROUND #Olympics #Paris2024 #ParisOlympics

For three years, Team USA has been planning, recruiting and refining to reach this upcoming week in Paris. And they've aligned things in excellent position to claim their fifth consecutive gold medal.

The team took its final steps before heading to the French capital on Saturday, finishing off Olympic pool play 3-0 with a 104-83 victory over Puerto Rico to clinch the top overall seed in the medal round. That will begin Tuesday, where the U.S. will face Brazil in the quarterfinals at Bercy Arena.

"I think we got done what we wanted to accomplish, winning all three games and securing the top seed," Team USA coach Steve Kerr said. "We know we have to play better. Part of this tournament is it gets harder as you go."

The traits the team has been developing for the past four weeks once again were on display in front of 27,000 fans at Stade Pierre Mauroy.