Team USAThe women's basketball team survived a thriller in its gold medal contest against Team France and was much closer than Team USA's men's basketball gold medal game. With the win, the Women's team became the first team in any sport to win eight straight gold medals.
With some of the WNBA's best talent on the team, Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson led the team with 21 pints and 13 boards to go along with four critical blocks. They needed what they could get from Wilson to France's Gabby Williams, a former WNBA player and past champion at the University of Connecticut. Williams led Team France, which did not go away, and nearly tied the game at the buzzer with a last-second surge, but it was ruled a two-point shot.
From NBC Olympics:
Not without a lot of fuss first, though. Less than 24 hours after those countries' men's teams put on a fourth quarter for the ages, the women did the same, with six ties and six lead changes in the final 10 minutes of play. France had an answer every time the USA looked ready to go on a run, taking a two-point lead with just 5:03 left. But Copper reeled off four straight points to put Team USA back in front, and Wilson hit a jumper to extend the lead to three.
It looked like the USA had finally put things away when Plum drained two free throws to go up 65-61 with just 11 seconds left. But then Williams nearly made one last flurry of the century, hitting a quick 3 to keep France alive and then, after two more free throws, took the reins to make this nearly force overtime.
It was one of the best sporting events to take place at the 2024 Summer Olympics and proved that the world is indeed rooting for America's basketball stars on both sides. Congratulations to Team France for a thrilling finish.
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Photo: Getty
