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In a finale to the women's basketball tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Team USA narrowly defeated host nation France 67-66 to capture their eighth consecutive gold medal. The hard-fought victory extended the Americans' Olympic winning streak to an astounding 61 games dating back to 1992.
A'ja Wilson, named tournament MVP, led the charge with 21 points, 12 rebounds and 4 crucial blocks. "We just knew what we had to do," Wilson said after the game. "We believed in each other and that's the greatest thing about it."
The host nation pushed the favored Americans to the brink, backed by a raucous home crowd at Bercy Arena. France built a 10-point lead in the third quarter before Team USA mounted their comeback.
"Forwards, centers, whatever you want to call us, we don't get the love we should," Wilson had noted before the tournament. Her dominant performance silenced any doubters.
Key late-game plays sealed the win for the U.S. With 20 seconds left and clinging to a 3-point lead, Breanna Stewart got a fingertip on France's 3-point attempt. Kahleah Copper then sank two clutch free throws to extend the advantage.
France's Gabby Williams hit a shot at the buzzer, but her foot was on the 3-point line, leaving the final margin at one point. Williams finished with a team-high 8 points for France.
The game was a defensive struggle, with the U.S. shooting just 34% and France 32%. America's 19 turnovers nearly proved costly, leading to 14 French points.
"It's always with me, and there's definitely moments of like, oh wow this could be totally different — I could be seeing this beautiful view through bars," said Brittney Griner before the game, reflecting on her 10-month detention in Russia. Her perspective added extra meaning to the gold medal.
U.S. coach Cheryl Reeve praised her team's resilience: "This group faced adversity and showed what they're made of when it mattered most."
The victory cements the USA women's basketball program as one of the most dominant in Olympic history. As they celebrated on the podium, the Americans were already looking ahead to extending their golden run in 2028.
