Team USA survived a scare from France, winning by a narrow margin of 67-66 to secure their record-extending 8th Olympic gold medal at the Paris 2024 Women’s Basketball tournament on Sunday, August 11, 2024.
The women’s final was a repeat of the men’s clash between the two countries, which took place on Saturday, August 10. In that game, the USA defeated France 98-87 to claim their fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal in the men’s category.
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The US started strongly against the host nation in the Paris 2024 women’s final, winning the first quarter with a 6-point lead, but France leveled the score at 25-25 in the second quarter.
The US managed to regain the lead with a slim 2-point advantage, 45-43, in the thrilling third quarter and held off the pressure from the host nation to secure their eighth gold medal in a row.
US’s A’ja Wilson was pivotal in her team’s victory over France, showcasing an excellent performance with 21 points and 13 rebounds, earning a double-double and helping avoid a shock loss.
France displayed resilience in their defense with 10 steals to challenge the US offense, but despite their efforts, they settled for the silver medal.
By Dotun Omisakin
