Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, and Tamika Catchings embraced in a long hug. The only blemish on their stellar U.S. basketball career was now gone.

The United States women's basketball team celebrates after winning the world championship Sunday in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.

The United States won the women’s world championship Sunday, getting 18 points from Angel McCoughtry in an 89-69 victory over the Czech Republic.

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

It was one sweet win for Bird, Taurasi and Catchings, who were on the U.S. team that finished a disappointing third in the 2006 worlds.

The three were determined not to let that happen again.

“It was a perfect ending and a perfect way for us to go out,” Catchings said.

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.

“The fans were into it, and it couldn’t have been better the way they cheered on their team. It wasn’t easy to beat them tonight,” Catchings said.

College football

Texas drops out of poll

Oregon has jumped over Boise State, and Texas, Penn State and Southern California have fallen out of the Associated Press college football poll.

After beating Stanford, 52-31, on Saturday night, the Ducks moved up a spot to No. 3 behind top-ranked Alabama and No. 2 Ohio State in the latest Top 25.

Boise State, which had been No. 3 since the preseason, slipped a spot to No. 4. TCU was No. 5.

Texas dropped out of the ranking after losing a second-straight game, leaving the Longhorns unranked for the first time since Oct. 15, 2000.

NBA

Bulls’ Boozer out 2 months

Chicago — Bulls forward Carlos Boozer, one of Chicago’s top offseason acquisitions, broke his right hand and could be out for two months after a fall at his home Saturday.

Boozer fractured the fifth metacarpal bone in his hand and will need surgery, the team said Sunday.

Baseball

Brewers’ Macha says he’s out

Milwaukee — Brewers manager Ken Macha is out of a job.

“They’re not going to pick up my option,” Macha told the Associated Press on Sunday night.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel cited unidentified sources earlier Sunday in saying Macha would be let go. About an hour after the report, Macha said he spoke with general manager Doug Melvin.

“He said he’s sorry if I heard it on the radio,” Macha said.

Golf

Haas wins Viking Classic

Madison, Miss. — Bill Haas overcame five bogeys in the final round to finish 15 under and win the Viking Classic by three strokes, his second victory of the year.

The $648,000 winner’s purse jumped Haas to No. 26 on the money list and earned him a spot in the Masters and the U.S. Open. The win also extended his exemption through 2013.

Halberg sets record in victory

Conover, N.C. — Gary Hallberg shot a record-setting 11-under 61 to win the Ensure Classic by one stroke ahead of Fred Couples.

Hallberg finished at 18 under, tying the event record at the Rock Barn Golf and Spa and winning his first career Champions Tour title.