PARIS – A’ja Wilson made a notable impact by scoring 21 points as the USA Women’s National Basketball Team faced their greatest challenge in the pursuit of their eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal. The team secured a thrilling victory over the host nation France with a final score of 67-66 in the final on Sunday.
This victory marks an impressive streak for the American women, who have now won 61 consecutive games. Until now, only two of those victories had margins of less than ten points. With this win, they surpassed the eight gold medals won consecutively by the USA men’s national basketball team, which achieved seven consecutive gold medals from 1936 to 1968.
The outcome came just hours after the USA men’s team also triumphed over France in their final. This is the first time in Olympic history that both gold medal matches featured the same two teams.
The final game was tense and was decided in the last minutes. The USA led 67-64 with only 3.9 seconds remaining after Kahleah Copper successfully made two free throws. Marine Johannes brought the ball up the court to Gabby Williams, who caught the ball just inside the three-point line and scored with a bank shot over the outstretched arms of Breanna Stewart, setting the final score.
There was a brief pause before the referees indicated that it was a two-point shot, which sent the American players into celebration while the French players were left in disbelief at their narrow loss. Williams, who finished the game with 19 points, had just made a deep three-pointer moments earlier, bringing France closer to the win.
With this victory, the USA women’s basketball team cements their dominant position on the Olympic stage, and all eyes are now focused on the upcoming Games in Los Angeles in 2028.