The U.S. women's basketball team won its straight 8th Olympic gold medal, beating the host team France by the tightest of margins: 1 point. Team USA won 67 to 66 in a contested final match that came down to the last shot. This was arguably one of the most exciting matches in the entire 2024 Olympics.
Led by A'ja Wilson, who scored 21 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and recorded 4 blocks, the U.S. survived a last-second shot by Gabby Williams that was just inside the 3-point line to hold off France. Wilson ended up winning the MVP award of the tournament, an award she will most likely win in the WNBA as well.
Kahleah Copper absolutely took over in the 4th quarter, scoring 10 points. She also sank two crucial free throws with 3.9 seconds left that enabled her team to withstand France’s game winning attempt.
No team had been able to push the
Americans during this impressive streak of 61 consecutive wins. The win was the closest the U.S. has ever won an Olympic gold medal since the 1988 Games when they beat Yugoslavia by seven points. The only other team to keep the U.S. at single digits in a gold medal game was South Korea at the 1984 games.
Diana Taurasi made history as well as the first Olympic basketball player to win six (!) gold medals. The 42 year old helped solidify her G.O.A.T status this summer.
As for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Team USA will be stacked once again. Players such as Juju Watkins, Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Cameron Brink will most likely be on the roster. The rest of the world should be preparing as soon as today to face the U.S. for years to come.
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