Team USA secured its eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal in women’s basketball with a nail-biting 67-66 win against France at the Bercy Arena on Sunday, August 11th.
The victory cements the U.S. as the most dominant dynasty in Olympic team sports history, making them the first team, regardless of gender or sport, to achieve eight straight Olympic golds. This win also marked Team USA’s 61st consecutive Olympic victory. Diana Taurasi made history by becoming the first team sport athlete to win six Olympic gold medals.
However, the path to victory was far from easy. France led by as many as 10 points during the game. It was a defensive battle, with the U.S. shooting 34 percent and France shooting 32 percent. The game’s climax came when France’s Gabby Williams made an outside shot in the final moments. Unfortunately for France, her foot was on the line, making it a two-pointer instead of a game-tying three-pointer.
Team USA coach Cheryl Reeve emphasized the importance of defense in their victory: “It’s France’s identity. It’s also our identity. That’s why you saw the slugfest that was happening. Neither team could really get to their offensive identities. It comes down to players making plays. That’s what happened in that game,” Reeve told NBC.
A’ja Wilson was instrumental in the win, contributing 21 points, 13 rebounds, and five blocks while playing over 33 minutes. “I’m so proud of the resilience my team showed. We could have folded. We could have crumbled many times. We pulled through. To say that I’m a two-time gold medalist, I’m so blessed,” Wilson shared with NBC after the game.
Earlier in the day, Australia defeated Belgium 85-81 to claim the bronze medal.
Basketball: Women’s podium
Gold: United States
Silver: France
Bronze: Australia
