海角大神

The U.S. women鈥檚 basketball team had never been challenged during its 32-year run in the Olympics like the Americans were Sunday by France.

They met the moment and made history, winning an eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal.聽It was the closest 鈥� and maybe sweetest win 鈥� of any during the streak.

鈥淢aybe they won鈥檛 say it鈥檚 just easy and we walk in and just win gold,鈥� said U.S. center Brittney Griner, who broke down in tears when she was presented her third gold medal. 鈥淢aybe they鈥檒l stop saying that, because, like I said, we see everybody鈥檚 best shot. And we saw the shot that France gave us.鈥�

A鈥檍a Wilson scored 21 points and the U.S. survived a last-second shot by Gabby Williams 鈥� a former University of Connecticut standout 鈥� that was just inside the 3-point line to hold off France for a 67-66 win and an eighth consecutive gold.

鈥淓ight straight golds is insane honestly,鈥� said Breanna Stewart. 鈥淓ach one is so different, and so, so special and so, so hard.鈥�

No team had been able to push the Americans during their impressive streak of 61 consecutive wins. Only two of those victories had been by single digits before the game against France.

鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing. It truly is a dynasty that we have built here at USAB has been incredible,鈥� Ms. Wilson said. 鈥淎nd I am so proud of the resilience that my team showed. We could have fumbled it many times, but we pulled through. To say I am a two-time gold medalist, I am so blessed.鈥�

The eight straight golds broke a tie with the American men鈥檚 program that won seven in a row from 1936-68.聽The women鈥檚 victory came less than 24 hours after the U.S. men鈥檚 team also beat France in the basketball title game.

This was the first time in Olympic history that both gold medal basketball games featured teams from the same two countries.聽Unlike the men鈥檚 game, this one came down to the final second and one last shot.

The Americans were up 67-64 with 3.9 seconds left after Kahleah Copper hit two free throws. Marine Johannes brought the ball up the court and passed it to Ms. Williams, who caught the ball just inside the 3-point line and banked in a shot over the outstretched arms of Breanna Stewart at the buzzer.

There was a brief delay before the officials signaled that it was indeed a two-point shot, which sparked a celebration and a lot of happy hugs for the Americans and left the French players standing in disbelief after falling just short.

鈥淚 knew it was a two-pointer straight away. It was very difficult for me to stop in time,鈥� Ms. Williams said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we should hold our head down. There鈥檚 a little bit of disappointment. But once that pill has been swallowed, we can celebrate the silver medal. What we鈥檝e done is inspirational.鈥�

The American players went to celebrate with basketball celebrities sitting courtside, a group that included men鈥檚 basketball players LeBron James, Bam Adebayo, and Derrick White, along with U.S. women鈥檚 greats Lisa Leslie, Sue Bird, and Dawn Staley.

Ms. Williams, who finished with 19 points, had hit a deep three-pointer a few seconds earlier to get France within one point before Ms. Copper鈥檚 free throws. She got a consoling hug from Ms. Staley.

鈥淲hat a tremendous basketball game. The 12,000-plus that were here were just treated to an unbelievable environment and the level of athleticism and competitiveness that these players had,鈥� U.S. coach Cheryl Reeve said. 鈥淲hat a better way to finish the Paris Olympics than to see that?聽

鈥淲e feel really fortunate, happy, a lot of words. There鈥檚 a lot of trust that has to happen, so I鈥檓 just thrilled that we鈥檙e able to get a win.鈥�

The victory gave Diana Taurasi a sixth consecutive gold medal, making her the most decorated basketball player in Olympic history, breaking a tie with longtime teammate Sue Bird, who won five.聽

Ms. Taurasi, who didn鈥檛 play in the gold medal game, has been humble about the potential record, saying she cares more about the team winning than her individual success.聽It鈥檚 been a trying Olympics for her as she didn鈥檛 start any of the knockout phase games, the first time she wasn鈥檛 in the opening lineup since the 2004 Olympics.

Australia edged Belgium 85-81 in the bronze medal game earlier Sunday.

This story was reported by The Associated Press.聽

Read more on the 2024 Games from 海角大神: Women鈥檚 sports are having a moment. The Olympics are showing why.