THEOn the last day of competition at the Paris Olympics, the most accurate American bet came true once again.
But this time, just barely.
The United States women’s national basketball team won its eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal on Sunday through a surprisingly close 67-66 victory over hosts France at the Bercy Arena. The victory did more than just confirm the USA’s long-standing supremacy in basketball. It gave the USA its 40th gold medal at the Paris Games, tying it with China for most gold medals at these Olympics. The USA leads the general medal table with 126, against 91 from China.
By any objective measure, Team USA won the Paris Olympics.
A’ja Wilson saved the game for the USA by scoring 21 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked 4 shots. France faced the Americans to a surprising 25-25 tie at halftime, and the home team jumped out to a 35-25 lead early in the third. Team USA has won the previous 60 Olympic games by an average of about 30 points. Could the host country end its successful Olympics with an impossible upset?
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The French came, oh, so close.
Wilson was everywhere for most of the third quarter — grabbing rebounds, blocking shots — to stop France’s run. The USA took a 45-43 lead into fourth place. With just over 5 minutes remaining, France took the lead 53-51. A free throw by Breanna Stewart put the Americans back up, 56-55, under the four-minute mark. Then Wilson – of course – scored to give the USA a 58-55 lead that they refused to relinquish. A layup from Kahleah Copper put the Americans up 62-59 with just over a minute left. Marine Fauthoux forced a three-pointer to tie with 20 seconds left: Stewart hit the target and the Americans held on.
Throughout these Games, Wilson continued to prove that she is the best women’s basketball player on the planet. She is averaging 27.2 points per game in the WNBA for the two-time champion Las Vegas Aces and could become the first player in league history to average 12 rebounds per game (she is averaging 11.96 per game at the moment). She entered the Olympic semifinals scoring a robust 18.2 points per game clip. Although she missed a series of short shots that she typically hits before halftime of the gold medal game, Wilson still attacked and attacked.
The 6’5” lefty can do it all. She is a smooth dribbler and shooter, a willing passer and mixes things up with her physical game.
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This gold medal was historic for Diana Taurasi, the veteran US star who won her sixth Olympic title. Although she struggled with injuries and did not play much at these Games, Taurasi is the first Olympic basketball player to win 6 Olympic gold medals.
Brittney Griner may one day capture Taurasi: she has now won three Olympic gold medals and can celebrate this one after spending 293 days in 2022 incarcerated in Russia before being released as part of a prisoner exchange. Stewart, the reigning WNBA MVP, also won her third consecutive gold medal.
With all business out of the way in Paris, attention will now turn to the WNBA, which is attracting record numbers of fans this season, thanks in large part to an influx of attractive newcomers, especially Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Games resume on August 15th. Clark’s omission from the Olympic roster was controversial. She brought unprecedented attention to women’s basketball and would certainly have drawn applause – and likely thrived – on the Paris stage.
But all the American players in Paris have earned their place here. Clark’s Olympic time will likely come. The momentum for women’s basketball continues.
This story originally appeared on Time.com read the full story
