USA Wins Eighth Straight Olympic Gold in Women’s Basketball

USA clinched the top spot on the 2024 Olympic medal table after a dramatic victory in women’s basketball. The USA team edged out France 67-66 in a thrilling final, securing their eighth consecutive Olympic gold and tying China’s record of 40 gold medals. With a total of 126 medals compared to China’s 91 including 44 silvers to China’s 27, the US leads the medal tally for the fourth Games in a row.

In a nail-biting finale, the USA team overcame a 53-51 deficit with five minutes remaining. Despite fierce home support for France, which included French President Emmanuel Macron in the stands and a buzzer-beater attempt by Gabby Williams, the USA held on for victory. Williams’ shot, which came inches inside the three-point line, was deemed insufficient to overturn the result.

Kahleah Copper, who played a crucial role, praised the team’s resilience, stating, “It feels even better to have to gut the game out like that. I’m proud of this group.” The USA women’s team, led by A’ja Wilson’s 21 points, extended their unbeaten streak in Olympic basketball since Barcelona 1992. The emotional high point for the USA came with Brittney Griner’s gold, marking her return to international competition after her release from a Russian prison.

Diana Taurasi also made history as the first athlete to win six basketball golds. The final moments saw Copper’s free throws seal the win despite France’s strong challenge. The 2024 Olympics in Paris concluded with the closing ceremony at 20:00 BST, capping off 16 days of intense competition. The French, despite their heartbreak, received a warm tribute from their home crowd as they sang “La Marseillaise” during the medal ceremony.