The U.S. women’s basketball team secured its eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal by edging out France 67-66 in a thrilling final that came down to the last shot. Led by A’ja Wilson, who scored 21 points, the Americans held on despite a tense moment when Gabby Williams attempted a shot just inside the three-point line in the closing seconds.
This victory marks a remarkable achievement for the U.S. team, extending their Olympic winning streak to 61 games. The gold medal win is the closest for the U.S. since 1988 when they triumphed over Yugoslavia by seven points. South Korea is the only other team to have kept the U.S. within single digits in a gold medal match, having done so in 1984.
“It’s amazing. It truly is a dynasty that we have built here at USAB,” Wilson expressed. “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.”
The victory also served to break a tie with the U.S. men’s program, which previously had seven consecutive golds from 1936 to 1968. Notably, the women’s triumph followed the men’s victory against France less than a day earlier, a historic first where both gold medal games featured the same two countries.
The game featured intense action, with the Americans leading 67-64 when Kahleah Copper sealed the score with two free throws in the final seconds. Marine Johannes pushed the ball up the court to Williams, who managed a two-point shot over Breanna Stewart just before the buzzer. After a brief review, it was confirmed as a two-pointer, leading to celebrations from the U.S. team while the French players faced the disappointment of a narrow defeat.
“Gabby hit some great shots down the end, tough shots,” Wilson remarked. “We understood what we had in our locker room and leaned on each other, believing in one another, and that’s the greatest thing about it.”
The American team celebrated with several celebrities courtside, including NBA stars LeBron James and Bam Adebayo, as well as revered figures from U.S. women’s basketball like Lisa Leslie and Sue Bird. Williams, who scored 19 points, had earlier made a critical three-pointer to bring France within one point before Copper’s free throws.
Additionally, this victory marked Diana Taurasi’s sixth consecutive gold medal, earning her the title of the most decorated basketball player in Olympic history, surpassing longtime teammate Sue Bird, who has five. Despite not playing in the gold medal game, Taurasi has emphasized her commitment to the team’s success over personal accolades, reflecting on a challenging Olympic experience where she did not start any games in the knockout stage, a first for her since the 2004 Olympics.