US women hold off France to win eighth straight Olympic basketball gold medal

PARIS (AP) — A’ja Wilson scored 21 points and nan U.S. women’s hoops squad survived nan biggest situation of its unprecedented tally to 8 consecutive Olympic golden medals pinch a 67-66 triumph complete France astatine nan Paris Games connected Sunday.

No squad had been capable to push nan Americans during this awesome streak of 61 consecutive wins. Only 2 of those victories had been by azygous digits earlier nan crippled against France.

The 8 consecutive golds collapsed a necktie pinch nan American men’s programme that won 7 successful a statement from 1936-68. The women’s triumph came little than 24 hours aft nan U.S. men’s squad besides hit France successful nan title game. This was nan first clip successful Olympic history that some golden badge games featured nan aforesaid 2 teams.

Unlike nan men’s crippled this 1 came down to nan last infinitesimal and 1 past changeable by France that was conscionable wrong nan 3-point line.

The Americans were up 67-64 pinch 3.9 seconds near aft Kahleah Copper deed 2 free throws. Marine Johannes brought nan shot up nan tribunal to Gabby Williams who caught nan shot conscionable wrong nan 3-point statement and banked successful complete nan outstreched arms of Breanna Srewart for nan last margin.

There was a little hold earlier nan officials signaled that it was a two-point shot, which led to nan opening of a ceremony and a batch of happy hugs for nan Americans and near nan French players opinionated successful disbelief arsenic they fell conscionable short.

Williams, who vanished pinch 19 points, had deed a heavy 3 a fewer seconds earlier to get France wrong 1 earlier Copper’s free throws.