Team USA vs. France: United States survives massive scare from ...
Jackie Young (13), Kahleah Copper (7) and Chelsea Gray celebrate after winning the gold medal against France at Bercy Arena on August 11, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
It was USA vs. France, Part II, and it did not disappoint. France made it as difficult as possible for Team USA, but the U.S. managed to eke out a 67-66 win to secure their eighth straight gold medal and 61st straight Olympic victory.
In a physical, low-scoring game, Team USA had to fend off a strong defensive presence from the host country in order to keep its win and gold streaks alive. The U.S. struggled with turnovers and was down by as many as 10 points in the third quarter before pushing back against France.
The two teams traded leads throughout the rest of the second half, with the score tied 11 times throughout the game. In the end, the game came down to the wire: Down three with seconds left, France's Gabby Williams had a chance to send the game to overtime, but her beautiful buzzer-beating shot was within the arc and only counted for two points.
The United States fought for that one-point win with everything they had. A'ja Wilson had another massive game, and led the team with 21 points and 13 rebounds while being crucial on the defensive end as well. Kelsey Plum and Kahleah Copper picked up 12 points each, with Copper also showing up on both ends of the court. Williams led France with 19 points and seven rebounds, and only just fell short of being the hero.
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Team USA survives France to take 67-66 win and earn eighth straight gold
It was not an easy one by any means, but Team USA outlasts the French to earn gold in a game that went down to the wire. What a thrilling, physical final match — and the United States comes out on top again.
Team USA receives their gold medals, sitting atop the podium
Team USA steps up to the top of the podium, receiving their gold medals. The team, who looked a bit stunned after the tight win, is in much better spirits now. A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, the two biggest players for Team USA this tournament, get the biggest cheers. Diana Taurasi gets a big cheer of her own, earning her historic sixth gold.
(Photo by DAMIEN MEYER/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Sun, August 11, 2024 at 6:19 PM GMT+2
Brittney Griner is emotional as the national anthem plays, wiping away a tear. Griner has spoken throughout the Olympics about how playing for the United States means more to her this time around after her imprisonment in Russia. It is wonderful to see her in a United States jersey again, but earning gold means even more.
Sun, August 11, 2024 at 6:09 PM GMT+2
Team France earns massive cheers from the crowd as they receive their silver medals. The French team still looks disappointed about the loss, but the crowd is still proud of their home team.
Gabby Williams, who scored 19 points, earns the biggest cheer. She is clearly emotional, likely from the close loss, but she will forever be a legend of these Olympics.
(Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Sun, August 11, 2024 at 6:07 PM GMT+2
The podium for women's basketball is final: Australia wins bronze, while France, the home team, takes silver. Team USA earns gold.
Sun, August 11, 2024 at 6:06 PM GMT+2
Australia, who beat Belgium earlier today, earns bronze. Australia won 85-81 behind a massive 30-point triple-double from Ezi Magbegor. With the win, Australia's Lauren Jackson earns her fifth Olympic medal, with her first Olympic games back in 2000.
(Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Sun, August 11, 2024 at 6:03 PM GMT+2
Brittney Griner hugs Chelsea Gray after their team's victory during the Women's Gold Medal game between Team France and Team United States. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Sun, August 11, 2024 at 6:00 PM GMT+2
Of Team USA's eight straight gold medals, Diana Taurasi has earned six of them. She now has more Olympic gold medals than anyone in basketball.
Sun, August 11, 2024 at 5:58 PM GMT+2
With the gold medal in women's basketball, the final event of the Paris Olympics, Team USA ties China with 40 gold medals. The race came down to the last events, but USA is able to lock up the final gold.
Team USA was incredibly dominant these games, earning 126 total medals compared to second-place China's 91. Great Britain and France came in third and fourth with 65 and 64, respectively.
Sun, August 11, 2024 at 5:48 PM GMT+2
A'ja Wilson has had an absolutely massive Olympics, averaging 18.6 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks throughout the tournament. She got four double-doubles, including a huge one in this championship game: 21 points and 13 rebounds, plus four blocks.
Dawn Staley, Wilson's former college coach, summarizes it well in an interview on the NBC broadcast: "We had A'ja Wilson, and they didn't," she said of the USA's win.
Sun, August 11, 2024 at 5:44 PM GMT+2
The United States' big win is even bigger when taken in context: Most of the 12,000-person crowd in Bercy Arena was loudly rooting for France, creating a hostile environment. The U.S. shot a whopping 34 free throws off of 25 French fouls, but only made 27 of them, courtesy of the environment.
Sun, August 11, 2024 at 5:38 PM GMT+2
The Team USA win streak, which dates back to 1992, was nearly in jeopardy today. But the United States win holds the streak and gives the team its 61st straight win. It was a hard-fought one, but the Americans held on until the very end.
Sun, August 11, 2024 at 5:28 PM GMT+2
Team USA is celebrating, but it's more muted than expected as they process that game.
A'ja Wilson looks a bit shell-shocked and potentially emotional in a postgame interview, but starts to get back to her normal self as she speaks about their win.
"Sometimes you've gotta take the ugly wins," Wilson said on the broadcast. She also praised Gabby Williams, who was so close to ending the USA's win streak.
She also had high praise — and a key expletive — for Kahleah Copper, who ended with 12 points, five rebounds and some massive plays on defense.
Sun, August 11, 2024 at 5:26 PM GMT+2
Bercy Arena has gone nearly quiet as the French fans process a wild ending — so, so close for France.
Sun, August 11, 2024 at 5:22 PM GMT+2
Oh MY! Gabby Williams sinks a beautiful long shot, but it's inside the arc and is only worth two. Team USA survives by the skin of its teeth, defeating France 67-66.
Sun, August 11, 2024 at 5:21 PM GMT+2
Gabby Williams hits an absolutely massive three-pointer, and France is within one. But Copper is fouled on the way back and makes both free throws.
USA has a 67-64 lead, and France is within three.
Sun, August 11, 2024 at 5:20 PM GMT+2
Gabby Williams fouls Kelsey Plum, who gets a few more seconds off the clock. She makes both free throws, for a 65-61 lead.
Sun, August 11, 2024 at 5:19 PM GMT+2
Copper quickly fouls Marine Johannes, stopping the clock at 13.5. Johannes takes two, and makes both. 63-61, USA.
Sun, August 11, 2024 at 5:17 PM GMT+2
Wilson misses her first free throw, but makes her second to extend the lead to four and give the U.S. a two-score advantage. France takes its third and final timeout, with 17.4 seconds remaining.
Sun, August 11, 2024 at 5:16 PM GMT+2
Breanna Stewart gets a massive blocked shot on Marine Fauthoux, and Wilson gets the rebound and gets fouled. She's headed to the free throw line.
