Some teams are good, some teams are great but the USA Basketball Women’s National Team is a dynasty.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Americans secured their eight consecutive Olympic gold medal in a down-to-the-wire, 67-66 victory over France on Sunday morning to round out their run at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This marked the 61st straight win for the U.S. at the Olympics since the 1992 Barcelona Games.
The Greatest Dynasty EVER
The ???????? #USABWNT wins an eighth-straight Olympic Gold. pic.twitter.com/3BZGcBgN48
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 11, 2024
A’ja Wilson scored 21 points and accumulated 13 rebounds for her fourth double-double in six games, and both Kahleah Copper and Kelsey Plum came off the bench with 12 points each for the United States (6-0) in the final.
Gabby Williams led France (4-2) with 19 points as the host nation put up a massive fight and even though it wasn’t the result they wanted, the country won its second-ever silver medal in the sport in front of their home fans and supporters. France previously claimed silver at the 2012 London Games and bronze in Tokyo in 2020.
American’s 8th gold didn’t come easy whatsoever
From the first second off the clock, the intensity of it felt like no other game the United States played up to this stage of the tournament. France tried as hard as they could to use their defensive pressure and negate any serious offense from Team USA.
As soon as they adjusted and understood how this was going to be a low-scoring affair with minor room for error, both teams maneuvered accordingly and didn’t disappoint.
The first quarter was back-and-forth halfway through it until the U.S. went on a 10-5 run to be up 15-9. Williams broke up multiple passes as she stole the ball twice in the first frame alone.
After a layup by Copper to open the second quarter, the French scored eight straight points before the lead flipped from side to side. France outscored the United States 16-10 and went into halftime tied 25-25.
The teams came out of the intermission and it was France that came out blazing. Valeriane Ayayi notched five points to ignite a 10-0 run, and the French fans went berzerk with a loud roar each time their team scored.
Plum responded with a pair of 3-pointers and assisted on a layup by her Las Vegas Aces teammate Wilson for an 8-0 stretch immediately afterward. Closing the third quarter with a 10-3 run, the seesaw game rolled on with the United States coming back and retaking the lead, 45-43.
KP3 ????
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— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 11, 2024
Knowing the significance of winning a gold medal and what it would do for either country, both teams exerted everything they had to the finish line.
Coming into the final with not much playing time in the Olympics, Copper came up clutch when her team needed her to be. The Phoenix Mercury star was a force on both ends of the court with 10 of her 12 points in the final quarter and she swiped the ball for two steals overall.
Using their physicality as much as they could to get the other team to foul, a majority of the shots made in the last 10 minutes came by free throws. Both teams ditched the 3-ball since they weren’t falling after France was 7-for-36 (19.4%) and the U.S. was 2-for-12 (16.7%) from behind the arch.
With time ticking down and France down by three, France needed a last-gasp miracle.
As there was only one second left, Williams found enough space and fired the ball from deep in hopes to send the game to overtime, but she was inside the arch and it counted for just a two-point shot, ultimately losing in heartbreaking fashion.
Despite turning the ball over 19 times, the United States took advantage of getting foul calls go their way and capitalized on the free throws. France had 25 fouls and Team USA made 27-of-34 (79.4%).
After the USA Basketball Men’s National Team beat France 98-87 on Saturday, the women capped off the sweep in basketball and continued to make history. Showing their mental toughness and will to battle through everything that France tried to impede them from playing their game, the women are once again victorious.
8 STRAIGHT GOLD MEDALS!!!
WHAT. A. GAME. pic.twitter.com/W01aj8kUvo
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) August 11, 2024
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers ASU Athletics, the Phoenix Mercury and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
