The American women’s basketball team had to overcome its biggest obstacle in thirty-two years in order to continue their historic run of eight consecutive Olympic gold medals. They won another game on Sunday at the Paris Games under the leadership of A’ja Wilson.
Throughout the streak, it was the closest and possibly tastiest of any of them.
With 21 points from Wilson and a last-second basket by former UConn star Gabby Williams that was just in the 3-point range, the United States held off France to win 67-66.
Over this remarkable run of 61 straight victories, no team has been able to put pressure on the Americans. Before the match against France, only two of those wins had been by a single digit.
“It’s amazing. It truly is a dynasty that we have built here at USAB has been incredible,” Wilson stated. “And I am so proud of the resilience that my team showed. We could have fumbled it many times, but we pulled through. To say I am a two-time gold medalist, I am so blessed.”
Eight golds in a row ended a tie with the American men’s program, which won seven consecutive golds from 1936 to 1968. Less than 24 hours had passed since the American men’s team defeated France in the championship match before the women’s victory. The same two teams competed in both gold medal games for the first time in Olympic history.
In contrast to the men’s competition, this one came down to France’s last-second shot.
Kahleah Copper made two free throws with 3.9 seconds remaining to put the Americans up, 67-64. Williams received the ball from Marine Johannes up the court, and she caught it just inside the 3-point line before banked it in over Breanna Stewart’s outstretched arms for the game-winning basket.
After a little pause, the referee called that it was a two-point shot. The Americans celebrated and gave each other several high fives, while the French players stared in shock at their own narrow miss.
“Gabby hit some great shots down the end, tough shots,” Wilson stated. “We understood what we had in our locker room and leaning on each other and talking to one another and believing that we believed in each other and that’s the greatest thing about it.”
The American players went to celebrate with the famous people seated courtside, which included American women’s basketball legends Lisa Leslie, Sue Bird, and Dawn Staley in addition to men’s basketball icons LeBron James, Bam Adebayo, and Derrick White.
Before Copper’s free throws, Williams, who finished with 19 points, had pulled France within one with a deep three seconds earlier. Staley gave her a comforting embrace.
“What a tremendous basketball game. The 12,000-plus that were here were just treated to an unbelievable environment and the level of athleticism and competitiveness that these players had,” U.S. coach Cheryl Reeve stated. “What a better way to finish the Paris Olympics than to see that? We feel really fortunate, happy, a lot of words. There’s a lot of trust that has to happen, so I’m just thrilled that we’re able to get a win.”
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With the win, Diana Taurasi broke a tie with her longtime teammate Sue Bird, who won five gold medals, to become the most decorated basketball player in Olympic history with her sixth straight gold medal.
Taurasi, who did not participate in the gold medal game, has expressed humility on the possible record, stating that the team’s victory matters more to her than her own accomplishments.
She didn’t start any of the knockout phase games, which is a first for her since the 2004 Olympics, so it’s been a difficult Olympics for her. Earlier on Sunday, Australia defeated Belgium 85-81 in the bronze medal match.
