On a sunlit Sunday afternoon, the USA women’s basketball team cemented their status as the most dominant squad in Olympic history with a breathtaking 67-66 victory over France in the Paris Games. This win not only earned them their eighth consecutive gold medal but also allowed them to extend their unbroken streak of Olympic victories to 61 games, dating back to 1992.
In a nail-biting final at the Bercy Arena, the atmosphere was electric. The French fans roared and cheered with each basket, creating a thunderous backdrop that made every moment of the game feel intense. The Americans, despite trailing by double digits during the third quarter, managed to rally and turn the game around. This latest gold medal run surpasses the previous record set by the USA men’s basketball team, who won seven golds in a row from 1936 to 1968. The women’s team has now set the benchmark for the longest streak in Olympic team sports history.
A Heart-Stopping Finish
A’ja Wilson emerged as the star of the show, scoring a game-high 21 points. The game was decided in the final moments when Gabby Williams attempted a last-second shot, off a cross-court pass from Marine Johannes. The ball sailed just inside the three-point line, missing by mere centimeters and denying France the chance to push the game into overtime. This narrow margin of victory highlighted how fiercely contested the match was, with only two teams managing to keep the margin within single digits throughout the USA team’s record-winning streak.
Reflecting on the game, Wilson said, “We were just resilient in what we needed to do. We kept going, bucket for bucket. That’s great basketball and that is what people want to see. Our defense kind of settled in and we got stops and we started feeling it together.” Her sentiments capture the essence of a game where both teams displayed extraordinary grit and determination.
A Clash of Titans
This gold medal showdown was a rematch of the 2012 London Games, where the USA had previously defeated France by a staggering 36 points, the largest margin of victory in Olympic basketball history. The 2024 final, however, was a much tighter affair, proving that France had significantly closed the gap.
Despite their reputation for offensive prowess, the USA team struggled with their shooting accuracy during the tournament. In the gold-medal game, they hit only two of 12 three-point attempts (17%) and finished with 19 turnovers. The first half was particularly challenging, ending with the score tied at 25. France seized the momentum early in the third quarter with a 10-point surge, pushing ahead to a 35-25 lead. The Bercy Arena erupted in celebration, but the Americans quickly answered back through a series of strong performances from Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Breanna Stewart, and Sabrina Ionescu.
The Decisive Moments
One of the pivotal moments came when Napheesa Collier scored a wide-open layup off a brilliant assist from Ionescu, giving the USA a 41-40 lead. The game remained intensely competitive, with France briefly taking a 51-49 lead with just over five minutes left. The tension reached its peak as the crowd roared in anticipation of a possible French comeback. However, crucial errors by France, including an airballed three-point attempt by Williams with less than a minute remaining, allowed the USA to hold on for the win.
Brittney Griner, who fought back tears after securing her third Olympic gold, summed up the struggle perfectly: “Maybe they won’t say it’s just easy and we walk in and just win gold. Maybe they’ll stop saying that, because, like I said, we see everybody’s best shot. And we saw the shot that France gave us.” Griner’s emotional response highlighted the immense pressure and scrutiny the team faces, underscoring the incredible achievement of their continued success.
Record-Breaking Achievements
With this victory, Diana Taurasi added another gold medal to her collection, making it her sixth. This achievement sets a new record for the most Olympic gold medals won by any athlete in a team sport. Meanwhile, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young made history as the first players to win gold medals in both 3x3 and 5x5 basketball, showcasing their versatility and excellence across different formats of the game.
The USA women’s basketball team’s dominance extends beyond the Olympics. They have also claimed six of the last seven World Cup titles, with their only defeat during this period occurring in the 2006 World Cup semi-final against Russia. This remarkable consistency reaffirms their status as a powerhouse in international basketball.
A Historic Weekend
Sunday’s game marked the end of a historic weekend where both the men’s and women’s gold medals were contested between France and the USA for the first time ever in Olympic history. This unprecedented occurrence added an extra layer of excitement and significance to the events, highlighting the global prominence of basketball and the fierce competition between these two basketball giants.
In conclusion, the USA women’s basketball team’s victory was not just a triumph of skill and strategy but a testament to their resilience and enduring dominance in the sport. Their incredible run of success continues to set the standard for excellence in Olympic basketball, thrilling fans around the world and solidifying their place as the greatest team in Olympic history.
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