The US women’s basketball team won for the 8th time Olympics Gold medal defeating hosts France by the narrowest margin: 1 point. Team USA won 67 to 66 in the final which came down to the last shot.
Led by A’Jay Wilson, who scored 21 points, the U.S. got away with a last-second shot by Gabby Williams from inside the 3-point line to hold off France.
No team could top the Americans during this amazing streak of 61 consecutive victories. It was the closest the U.S. has ever won an Olympic gold medal since beating Yugoslavia by seven points at the 1988 Games. In the 1984 Games, South Korea was the only team to hold the United States to single digits in the gold medal game.
“It’s amazing. It’s truly been an incredible dynasty that we’ve built at USAB,” Wilson said. “I’m very proud of the resilience my team showed. We may have tripped it up many times, but we pulled through. To say I’m a two-time gold medalist, I’m very blessed.”
Michael Conroy / AB
With Sunday’s victory, the US women’s streak extends to 61 consecutive Olympic victories. It broke a tie with the US men’s program that had won seven in a row from 1936-68.
The women’s victory came less than 24 hours after the US men’s team France also won In the title game. This is the first time in Olympic history that the same two teams have competed in both gold medal events.
Unlike the men’s game, it came down to the final minute and France’s last shot inside the 3-point line.
The Americans went up 67-64 with 3.9 seconds left after Kahlia Copper hit two free throws. Marin Johannes brought the ball to Williams, and the former UConn standout caught the ball inside the 3-point line and over Breanna Stewart’s outstretched arms for the final rim.
There was a brief delay before the officials signaled that it was a two-point shot, leading to the start of a celebration and lots of jubilant hugs for the Americans and the French players standing in disbelief.
“Kabby hit some great shots at the end, tough shots,” Wilson said. “We just realized that we’re in our locker room, leaning on each other, talking to each other, believing that we believe in each other, and that’s the biggest thing.”
Mark J. Terrill / AP
Celebrities including men’s basketball players LeBron James, Pam Adebayo, Derrick White and American women’s legends Lisa Leslie, Sue Bird and Dan Staley sat courtside to celebrate.
Williams, who finished with 19 points, hit a deep 3 seconds before Copper’s free throws to get France within a minute. She got a comforting hug from Staley.
The win gave Diana Taurasi her sixth consecutive gold medal, making her the most decorated basketball player in Olympic history, breaking a tie with longtime teammate Sue Bird, who won five.
Taurasi, who did not play in the gold medal match, has been humble about the potential achievement, saying he is more concerned about the team winning than his personal success.
It was a trying Olympics for him as he was not in the starting lineup for the first time since the 2004 Olympics and did not start any of the knockout games.
