The United States crawled to their eighth straight Olympic gold medal, but this latest win was their toughest.
However, they kept their cool from the foul line and needed a stroke of luck to prevail over hosts France 67-66 in the Paris 2024 women’s basketball final.
France led 35-25 early in the third, and the USA was in danger of a first loss in 60 games. That is why an immediate 8-0 run in response, made it a new game, and gave them a say.
But there was huge drama at the end of the game. Gabby Williams hit a basket on the buzzer for France, which looked like it had forced overtime.
However, her foot strayed into two-point range, which wasn’t enough for them as they settled for their second silver medal.
A’Ja Wilson led the U.S. with 21 points and 13 rebounds, with Kelsey Plum and Kahleah Cooper both scoring 12, and those two hit the vital free throws towards the end of regulation.
Williams led France with 19 points – the only French player to score in double figures.
Earlier, Australia won its first Olympic medal since London 2012 with an 85-81 win over Belgium in the bronze medal game.
In a pulsating game, it was knotted at 69-69 approaching the midway point of the fourth when Australia put on a 7-0 run.
It gave the Aussies the cushion needed to take their place on the podium, as Belgium never got level.
Ezi Magbegor was outstanding. She scored 30 points on 12/17 shooting, 13 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and three blocks for an all-time Olympic women’s basketball record efficiency rating of 45.
For Opals legend Lauren Jackson, a fifth Olympic medal solidifies her status as a basketball icon.
