The USA Women’s National Team captured a 10th overall, and record eighth-straight gold medal, after defeating France 67-66 in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 gold medal game. With the gold medal, the USA Women’s National Team claimed the longest Olympic gold medal streak in a traditional team sport. The USA Basketball Men’s National Team won seven straight gold medals from 1936-1968.
The U.S. also extended their Olympic win streak to 61 games since 1996. France won their second silver medal at the event and third overall, while Australia claimed a third-ever bronze and sixth overall medal at the Games with an 85-81 win over Belgium earlier today.
Starting Out: Head coach Cheryl Reeve elected to start Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson. Tonight was the third straight game these five have started together at the Olympic Games. The starters as a group combined for 38 points, led by Wilson’s 21.
Gold Medal Run: The two teams struggled on offense in the first half, with the U.S. shooting 29% (8-28 FG) and France 28% (11-40 FG) through two quarters. At the halftime buzzer the game was tied 25-25.
After a 10-0 France run to open the third quarter, which forced the first double-digit deficit the U.S. has faced at the Olympics, the Americans responded with an 8-0 run to bring the team within two (33-35). Kelsey Plum accounted for six of those points with two 3-pointers. Both teams then traded baskets before the USA took its first lead of the second half (41-40) with 2:31 remaining in the third frame. Wilson (6) and Collier (4) combined for the last 10 U.S. points, helping the USA take a 45-43 lead into the final frame.
In a fourth quarter that saw two lead changes and five ties, the USA led until the French took a 51-49 lead with 5:32 left to play in the game. Kahleah Copper, who scored 10 points in the final frame, put the USA ahead for the final time with an and-1 score with 4:35 left to play.
The Americans though did not, and would not, lead by more than one possession until the final 17 seconds, when Wilson sunk a free throw to put the USA ahead 63-59. France refused to give in, however, and brought the game within one point (65-64) on a Gabby Williams 3 with five seconds left. Copper went on to hit two clutch free throws for the red, white and blue, to take a 67-64 lead. Williams fittingly hit a floating jumper at the buzzer, but it was only a two, giving the USA the narrowest of margins to win an eighth-straight gold medal 67-66.
French History: The U.S. are now 4-0 against France at the Olympic Games. Today was the seventh time a host team took part in a medal-winning game at the Olympics, with the host winning the first three (gold for Soviet Union in 1980, USA in 1984 & 1996). However, the last four hosts have lost in the final (silver for Australia in 2000, 4th place for China in 2008 & silver for Japan in 2021).
Sharing the Wealth: The USA dished out 18 assists on 19 made field goals today against France. The team averaged 27.7 assists per game, the second-highest assists average for any team in a single Olympic tournament (28 apg, 2016). The team has averaged 26+ assists per game in each of their last three Olympic tournaments, the three highest averages of any team in the history of the competition.
Golden From the Start: Diana Taurasi became the first player to win six gold medals at the Olympics, surpassing her former teammate Sue Bird (five gold medals); she has the most wins and games played in the competition, having won all the 44 games she been a part of.
A Tournament to Remember: Wilson, the Olympic MVP, led the USA throughout the Games and was the main contributor again when it mattered most. She finished her fourth double-double and 20-point game of the competition with 21 points (6-14 FG, 9-12 FT), 13 rebounds (5 ORB), 1 steal and 4 blocks in 33:19.
Her four double-doubles, which were the most by any player at the Paris Games, tie Yolanda Griffith (2000) for the most by an American in a single Olympics. She now has six career double-doubles, joining Lisa Leslie (6) for the second-most in USA Olympic history. Only Griffith (7) and Katrina McClain (7) have more in their Olympic careers. Her four 20-point showings also tie Leslie for the most such games by an American in an Olympics. She now has six 20-point games through two Games, tying Leslie for the most in an Olympic career.
Wilson ended the competition leading the team in points and rebounds, averaging 18.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Both averages are the second highest ever from an American at the Olympics. Only Leslie (19.5 ppg, 1996) averaged more points in an Olympic Games, while McClain owns the record for the highest average on the boards (10.4 rpg, 1988).
The MVP also averaged a team-best 2.7 blocks and 1.5 steals per game. She joins Cheryl Miller (1984) as the only players to lead the USA in four major statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks) at an Olympic Games.
Additionally, her 2.7 blocks per game and 16 total blocks rank first in the USA record books for most total and average rejections at an Olympics. She passed Leslie (2.6 bpg and 14 total, 2004) to hold both records.
Give Me Three, Bre and Brit: Stewart was a leader for this Olympic team. She contributed 8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 2 blocks in 30:32 against France. She averaged 16.3 points to go along with 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.7 blocks in her third Olympic Games. Her scoring and block averages are the most she’s registered at an Olympic Games in her career.
Brittney Griner was another strong contributor for the USA, as she averaged 7.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
The two now own three gold medals apiece, joining Taurasi (6), Bird (5), Teresa Edwards (4), Tamika Catchings (4), Sylvia Fowles (4), Leslie (4), Tina Charles (3), Katie Smith (3), Dawn Staley (3) and Sheryl Swoopes (3) as the only players with as many gold medals.
Kah-Mon: Copper was instrumental in the USA’s second-half surge. She scored 12 points (3-8 FG, 6-6 FT), 10 of which came in the fourth frame, and tallied 5 rebounds and 2 steals. She scored 23 of her 41 cumulative points in the final two games.
Collier Collects: Collier was a major factor on the boards for the USA against France. She registered 11 boards (5 ORB) to go along with 7 points and 1 steal in 26:45. Today was her first game with 10+ rebounds in her Olympic career.
Source: USA Basketball
