Team USA Women’s Basketball Ekes Out Win Over France, 67-66, Takes Gold Medal

Bruce Haring

11 August 2024 at 11:59 am·1-min read

The U.S. women’s basketball team avoided a massive upset, making defensive stops in crunch time to defeat France 67-66 in the gold medal game on Sunday at the Paris Olympics.

WNBA Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson had 21 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks to lead to the victory.

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Kahleah Copper’s strong drive put the U.S. up three with 1:22 left. After that, defense was the focus.

Team USA rallied from ten points behind in the third quarter to win their 61st straight game in Olympic competition.

Kelsey Plum sank two free throws to put the U.S. up four points. But Gabby Williams made a 3-pointer to cut France’s deficit to one point. After two Copper free throws, Williams had one more chance. She made it with a bank shot, but her feet were just past the line, and the shot only counted as two points.

Team USA became the first team in any sport to claim eight consecutive Olympic gold medals. They broke a tie with the American men, who’d won seven straight from 1936 to 1968.

UNBELIEVABLE ENDING IN PARIS. 😱

Gabby Williams banked it in at the buzzer but her FOOT WAS ON THE THREE-POINT LINE. TEAM USA WINS BY A SINGLE POINT.#ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/DJI7YxfVMl
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 11, 2024

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