The U.S. women’s volleyball team secured a silver medal at the Paris Olympics after losing the gold-medal match to Italy in straight sets.
Italy started the match strong, leading with a 6-1 run and eventually taking the first set 25-18, the second set 25-20, and the third set 25-17.
This marks the fifth consecutive Olympics where Team USA has medaled in women’s volleyball, with a history dating back to 2008. The team reached its second consecutive gold medal match following a victory over Brazil in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, but faced defeat once again in a 3-0 sweep.
For Italy, this victory signifies the first Olympic women’s volleyball medal ever for the country, as well as its inaugural gold medal in Olympic volleyball. The Italian women’s team, which had previously never placed higher than fifth in the Olympic games, lost only one set throughout their six matches in Paris.
The U.S. team’s loss has significant implications for the overall Olympic medal standings. Entering the final day of competition, the U.S. was trailing China 39-38 in gold medals, and women’s volleyball was seen as a potential opportunity to close the gap. However, the defeat leaves Team USA two gold medals behind as the competition comes to an end.