It was USA vs. France, Part II, and it did not disappoint. France made it as difficult as possible for Team USA, but the U.S. managed to eke out a 67-66 win to secure their eighth straight gold medal and 61st straight Olympic victory.
In a physical, low-scoring game, Team USA had to fend off a strong defensive presence from the host country in order to keep its win and gold streaks alive. The U.S. struggled with turnovers and was down by as many as 10 points in the third quarter before pushing back against France.
The two teams traded leads throughout the rest of the second half, with the score tied 11 times throughout the game. In the end, the game came down to the wire: Down three with seconds left, France’s Gabby Williams had a chance to send the game to overtime, but her beautiful buzzer-beating shot was within the arc and only counted for two points.
The United States’ fought for that one-point win with everything they had. A’ja Wilson had another massive game, and led the team with 21 points and 13 rebounds while being crucial on the defensive end as well. Kelsey Plum and Kahleah Copper picked up 12 points each, with Copper also showing up on both ends of the court. Williams led France with 19 points and seven rebounds, and only just fell short of being the hero.
It had been mostly smooth sailing for Team USA, which handily beat Australia on Friday in their semifinal. France, on the other hand, survived an overtime thriller against Belgium to make it to the final. Team USA is led by a formidable crew of WNBA stars, with A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum headlining the gold medal effort.
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Team USA survives France to take 67-66 win and earn eighth straight gold
It was not an easy one by any means, but Team USA outlasts the French to earn gold in a game that went down to the wire. What a thrilling, physical final match — and the United States comes out on top again.
A’ja Wilson shows out for USA to get the win
A’ja Wilson has had an absolutely massive Olympics, averaging 18.6 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks throughout the tournament. She got four double-doubles, including a huge one in this championship game: 21 points and 13 rebounds, plus four blocks.
Dawn Staley, Wilson’s former college coach, summarizes it well in an interview on the NBC broadcast: “We had A’ja Wilson, and they didn’t,” she said of the USA’s win.
The United States’ big win is even bigger when taken in context: Most of the 12,000-person crowd in Bercy Arena was loudly rooting for France, creating a hostile environment. The U.S. shot a whopping 34 free throws off of 25 French fouls, but only made 27 of them, courtesy of the environment.
Team USA just holds on to its win streak, earning a 61st straight win
The Team USA win streak, which dates back to 1992, was nearly in jeopardy today. But the United States win holds the streak and gives the team its 61st straight win. It was a hard-fought one, but the Americans held on until the very end.
Team USA is celebrating, but it’s more muted than expected as they process that game.
A’ja Wilson looks a bit shell-shocked and potentially emotional in a postgame interview, but starts to get back to her normal self as she speaks about their win.
“Sometimes you’ve gotta take the ugly wins,” Wilson said on the broadcast. She also praised Gabby Williams, who was so close to ending the USA’s win streak.
She also had high praise — and a key expletive — for Kahleah Copper, who ended with 12 points, five rebounds and some massive plays on defense.
Bercy Arena has gone nearly quiet as the French fans process a wild ending — so, so close for France.
Oh MY! Gabby Williams sinks a beautiful long shot, but it’s inside the arc and is only worth two. Team USA survives by the skin of its teeth, defeating France 67-66.
Gabby Williams hits an absolutely massive three-pointer, and France is within one. But Copper is fouled on the way back and makes both free throws.
USA has a 67-64 lead, and France is within three.
Gabby Williams fouls Kelsey Plum, who gets a few more seconds off the clock. She makes both free throws, for a 65-61 lead.
Copper quickly fouls Marine Johannes, stopping the clock at 13.5. Johannes takes two, and makes both. 63-61, USA.
Wilson misses her first free throw, but makes her second to extend the lead to four and give the U.S. a two-score advantage. France takes its third and final timeout, with 17.4 seconds remaining.
Breanna Stewart gets a massive blocked shot on Marine Fauthoux, and Wilson gets the rebound and gets fouled. She’s headed to the free throw line.
France is doing a full-court press now, and is amping up the pressure — and the U.S. might be feeling it, because A’ja Wilson travels to turnover the ball.
Williams misses a three-pointer and France takes a timeout. 54.7 seconds remaining.
Copper gets a huge push to the rim and is able to finish. 62-59, USA. Another slim lead with a minute left.
Plum looks unaffected as she sinks two free throws — more big points for the U.S., who have a three-point lead again.
France turns it over after losing it out of bounds, but Copper and Plum just miss two shots. Williams, meanwhile, hits the outside jumper to get France back within one. Williams has had a massive game for France, scoring 14 points and nabbing seven rebounds.
USA takes a timeout with 1:32 remaining.
More messiness, as France makes some misses and Stewart gets caught up in a jump ball that goes France’s way.
Jackie Young gets her fifth foul and has fouled out with two minutes and 30 seconds remaining. Gabby Williams makes both free throws and gets the French within one.
Stewart gets one, but misses the second — the environment at play again.
There’s some confusion on the other end, but the U.S. gets the ball back and A’ja Wilson gets a big shot outside the paint to take the 58-55 lead.
Stewart is fouled with the score at 55-55, and Team USA takes a timeout. The crowd — 12,000 strong, per the Olympics website — is on their feet and rooting for a French victory. This’ll come down to the wire.
Fauthoux hits both free throws to take a 53-51 lead with five minutes left. Ionescu turns over the ball and Fauthoux has a chance for a big three, but she misses.
Kahleah Copper is fouled on the other end to tie it up, and then gets a huge shot in the paint to take the lead. But Gabby Williams follows it up with points for France.
