The U.S. women's basketball team………
Before the U.S. women's basketball team could extend its unprecedented Olympic streak to eight straight Olympic titles, it had to overcome its biggest challenge in 32 years. A'ja Wilson and the Americans earned another victory in Paris on Sunday, perhaps more beautiful than any of the series.
Wilson scored 21 points, and the U.S. held off France on a final shot from Gabby Williams from just outside the three-point line to win 67-66.
No team could put pressure on the Americans during their astounding 61-win streak, only two of which had been by single digits before the France game. "It's incredible. We've built an incredible dynasty here at USAB," Wilson said. "And I'm so proud of the resilience that our team has shown. There were so many times we could have failed, but we did it. I'm just happy to win two gold medals."
The eighth consecutive gold medal breaks the record set by the U.S. men's team, which won seven straight championships from 1936 to 1968. The women's victory came less than 24 hours after the U.S. men's team also beat France in the title game. It was the first time in Olympic history that the same two teams played in both gold medal matches.
Unlike the men's match, the game came down to the wire in the final seconds, when France's final throw landed just inside the 3-point line.
The Americans led 67-64 with 3.9 seconds left after Kahleah Kopper made two free throws. Marine Johannes carried the ball down the field and passed it to Williams, who caught it just inside the 3-point line and chased it over Brianna Stewart's outstretched arms to the basket for the game-winning point. There was a short delay before the referee signaled it was a two-point throw, but then the celebrations and many joyous hugs began for the Americans while the French players who missed the mark stood there in disbelief.
"Gabby made a great throw at the end. It was a tough one," Wilson said. "We knew what we had in the locker room and we supported each other, we talked about it, we believed in each other. That's the best part."
The American players celebrated courtside with notables including men's basketball players LeBron James, Bam Adebayo and Derrick White, and U.S. women's greats Lisa Leslie, Sue Bird and Dawn Staley.
Williams, who finished with 19 points, put France within one point with a three-pointer seconds before Cupper made the free throw. She received a consoling hug from Staley. With this win, Diana Taurasi won her sixth consecutive gold medal, making her the most decorated basketball player in Olympic history. In doing so, she separated herself from longtime teammate Sue Bird, who won five gold medals.
Taurasi, who did not play in the gold medal game, was modest about her chances of a record. She said that a team victory is more important to her than individual success.
She did not start any of the knockout phase games, making it a tiring Olympics for her. It was the first time since the 2004 Olympics that she did not make the starting grid.
In the bronze medal game on Sunday, Australia defeated Belgium, 85-81.
