Team USA escaped by the skin of its teeth in Sunday’s gold-medal game against France.
France almost sent the game into overtime on a miraculous shot. Power forward Gabby Williams banked in a buzzer-beater on the game’s last play. However, her foot was on the three-point line, helping Team USA hold on to a 67-66 victory.
France proved to be a tough matchup for the Americans. Les Bleues forced 19 turnovers, had 10 steals and went 13-of-13 from the foul line. Williams, a former UConn star, finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and two assists on 7-of-16 shooting.
France couldn’t stop star American center A’ja Wilson, though. The two-time MVP showed why she’s one of the best players in the world, leading Team USA in scoring and rebounding with 21 points and 13 rebounds on 6-of-14 shooting in 33 minutes played.
Wilson also knocked down a massive shot in the fourth quarter. With Team USA leading 56-55 and 3:13 remaining, she drove to her left and fired a midrange jump shot. The ball bounced up into the air before going through the bottom of the net.
Meanwhile, American guard Kelsey Plum deserves credit for stepping up in the third quarter. She drilled two key three-pointers, helping Team USA erase an eight-point deficit and regain momentum.
The game was probably closer than the Americans anticipated. Still, the margin of victory seems insignificant.
Team USA has established itself as a dynasty in women’s basketball, winning eight consecutive gold medals. Per USA Basketball Communications, this is the longest Olympic gold-medal streak in a traditional team sport, surpassing the USA Basketball Men’s National Team, which won seven straight golds from 1936-68.