Former Lynx Guard Anna Cruz Sends Spain To Olympic Semifinals


Spain entered a quarterfinal showdown with Turkey on Tuesday with everything to play for. The Spanish were impressive in group play, only dropping one game–to the juggernaut that is the United States Women’s National Team.

Turkey was equally as impactful in the other group, and arrived in the quarterfinals riding a three-game winning streak after dropping its first two games in Rio. In other words, these two teams weren’t going to make it easy on each other.

Proceedings lived up to the hype as the two squads were tied at 62 apiece with four seconds left in regulation after Lara Sanders converted a long outlet pass for Turkey. Then, immediately after the made bucket, Spain’s Anna Cruz took the inbounds pass, accelerated past multiple Turkish defenders and pulled up steps inside the three-point line. The runner she tossed up was pure, and sent the Spanish national team into a frenzy as their incredible comeback was complete. Over the final 3:45, Spain outscored Turkey 12-2, and the win guarantees Spain will have a chance to play for their first ever Olympic medal in women’s basketball.

Minnesota Lynx fans will remember Cruz as the athletic guard who helped the team win the 2015 WNBA championship.

As Cruz sent the Spanish National Team into the Quarterfinals, it seemed as if the entire nation of Spain was watching, and couldn’t contain their jubilation. See below for some of the social reaction from members of Spain’s men’s team — in Spanish, of course — to the big shot:

https://twitter.com/threekola/status/765628232116862976

https://twitter.com/threekola/status/765625377918181376