Sunday's Worlds Capsules

KARLOVY VARY, Czech Republic (AP) - The United States won the women's basketball world championship Sunday, getting 18 points from Angel McCoughtry in an 89-69 win over the Czech Republic.

Diana Taurasi added 16 and Sue Bird had 11 points for the Americans, who now have won the world championship eight times.

The victory provided redemption for the only blemish on Bird, Taurasi and Tamika Catchings' U.S. Basketball careers. They were on the team that finished a disappointing third in the 2006 worlds.

The three were determined not to let that happen again.

To win the gold, in a similar situation to the men's team that won in Turkey, the U.S. had to get past the host nation in the final.

The Czechs were spurred on by a sold-out crowd of 6,024, which included President Vaclav Klaus, while trying to pull off one of the biggest upsets in the sport's history.

This was the first time that the Czechs had advanced to the medal round since dissolving from Slovakia in 1993. The former Czechoslovakia won two silver medals and four bronzes from 1953-1975.

Petra Kulichova scored 14 points and tournament MVP Hana Horakova added 12 for the Czechs, who beat defending champion Australia in the quarterfinals before topping Belarus in overtime to reach the gold medal game.

KARLOVY VARY, Czech Republic (AP) - Sancho Lyttle scored 22 points, Alba Torrens added 19 and Spain beat Belarus, earning the bronze medal.

It's the first medal at the worlds in the history of Spanish women's basketball. The team celebrated at halfcourt, dancing as the final buzzer sounded.

Lyttle, who also had 11 rebounds, didn't appear to be bothered at all by the back issue that kept her out of the team's semifinal loss to the U.S.

Anastasiya Verameyenka scored 20 points for Belarus, which finished fourth in its first-ever world championship.

The Belarusians looked exhausted on the court, unable to keep up with Spain.

While Spain rested Lyttle and star guard Amaya Valdemoro against the U.S., Belarus fought hard in an overtime loss to the Czech Republic.

KARLOVY VARY, Czech Republic - Lauren Jackson scored 13 points and Liz Cambage added 12 to lead Australia to a fifth-place finish with a victory over France.

It was the worst finish for the Australians at a major international tournament since failing to qualify for the Olympics in 1992.

Australia jumped out to a 21-7 lead in the first quarter behind Jackson. The game got chippy with nine offensive fouls called and both teams struggling to find their rhythm.

Elodie Godin had 11 points and Clemence Beikes added 10 for France.

KARLOVY VARY, Czech Republic - Ilona Korstin scored 21 points and Maria Stepanova added 16 to help Russia top South Korea and finish in seventh place.

Becky Hammon, who injured her knee in Saturday's loss to Australia, didn't play.

The first half of the game was a back-and-forth contest until Korstin's 3-pointer with 3 seconds left in the half gave Russia a 47-42 advantage.

The Russians scored the first six points of the third quarter to put the game away.

Beon Yeon Ha scored 24 points and Jung Sunmin added 21 for South Korea.