Crew USA poses for an image with their gold medals at Bercy Enviornment on the Paris Olympics 2024, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photograph/Mark J. Terrill)
PARIS — Crew USA ladies’s basketball workforce had by no means been challenged throughout its 32-year run within the Olympics just like the Individuals had been Sunday by France.
They met the second and made historical past, profitable an eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal.
It was the closest — and perhaps sweetest win — of any throughout the streak.
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“Perhaps they gained’t say it’s simply straightforward and we stroll in and simply win gold,” stated U.S. middle Brittney Griner. who broke down in tears when she was offered her third gold medal. “Perhaps they’ll cease saying that, as a result of, like I stated, we see everyone’s finest shot. And we noticed the shot that France gave us.”
A’ja Wilson scored 21 factors and Crew USA survived a last-second shot by former UConn standout Gabby Williams that was simply contained in the 3-point line to carry off France for a 67-66 win and an eighth consecutive gold.
“Eight straight golds is insane actually,” stated Breanna Stewart. “Every one is so totally different, and so, so particular and so, so arduous.”
No workforce had been in a position to push the Individuals throughout their spectacular streak of 61 consecutive wins. Solely two of these victories had been by single digits earlier than the sport in opposition to France.
“It’s superb. It really is a dynasty that we’ve constructed right here at USAB has been unbelievable,” Wilson stated. “And I’m so pleased with the resilience that my workforce confirmed. We might have fumbled it many instances, however we pulled by. To say I’m a two-time gold medalist, I’m so blessed.”
READ: Crew USA ladies’s basketball workforce eyes dominance at Paris Olympics
The eight straight golds broke a tie with the American males’s program that gained seven in a row from 1936-68. The ladies’s victory got here lower than 24 hours after the U.S. males’s workforce additionally beat France within the basketball title recreation.
This was the primary time in Olympic historical past that each gold medal basketball video games featured groups from the identical two nations.
Not like the lads’s recreation, this one got here all the way down to the ultimate second and one final shot.
The Individuals had been up 67-64 with 3.9 seconds left after Kahleah Copper hit two free throws. Marine Johannes introduced the ball up the courtroom and handed it to Williams, who caught the ball simply contained in the 3-point line and banked in a shot over the outstretched arms of Breanna Stewart on the buzzer.
There was a short delay earlier than the officers signaled that it was certainly a two-point shot, which sparked a celebration and a variety of completely happy hugs for the Individuals and left the French gamers standing in disbelief after falling simply quick.
“I knew it was a two-pointer immediately. It was very troublesome for me to cease in time,” Williams stated. “I don’t suppose we must always maintain our head down. There’s just a little little bit of disappointment. However as soon as that capsule has been swallowed, we are able to have a good time the silver medal. What we’ve executed is inspirational.”
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The American gamers went to have a good time with basketball celebrities sitting courtside, a gaggle that included males’s basketball gamers LeBron James, Bam Adebayo and Derrick White, together with Crew USA ladies’s greats Lisa Leslie, Sue Chook and Daybreak Staley.
Williams, who completed with 19 factors, had hit a deep 3 just a few seconds earlier to get France inside one earlier than Copper’s free throws. She received a consoling hug from Staley.
“What an amazing basketball recreation. The 12,000-plus that had been right here had been simply handled to an unbelievable setting and the extent of athleticism and competitiveness that these gamers had,” U.S. coach Cheryl Reeve stated. “What a greater strategy to end the Paris Olympics than to see that?
“We really feel actually lucky, completely happy, a variety of phrases. There’s a variety of belief that has to occur, so I’m simply thrilled that we’re in a position to get a win.”
The victory gave Diana Taurasi a sixth consecutive gold medal, making her probably the most embellished basketball participant in Olympic historical past, breaking a tie with longtime teammate Sue Chook, who gained 5.
Taurasi, who didn’t play within the gold medal recreation, has been humble in regards to the potential document, saying she cares extra in regards to the workforce profitable then her particular person success.
It’s been a making an attempt Olympics for her as she didn’t begin any of the knockout section video games, the primary time she wasn’t within the opening lineup because the 2004 Olympics.
Australia edged Belgium 85-81 within the bronze medal recreation earlier Sunday.
Observe Inquirer Sports activities’ particular protection of the Paris Olympics 2024.
