The US received a 67-66 thriller over France within the ladies’s basketball ultimate on Sunday, claiming an historic eighth consecutive Olympic crown whereas denying the host the golden end to the Paris Video games that had appeared inside its grasp.
With LeBron James sitting courtside carrying the gold medal the U.S. males received by beating France on Saturday, the American ladies accomplished the golden hoops double and prolonged their profitable streak on Olympic hardwood to a outstanding 61 video games – a stretch of domination that goes all the way in which again to 1992.
However the U.S. needed to dig deep to repel the scrappy French, who led by 10 within the third quarter and had appeared poised to tug off one of many largest upsets in Olympic historical past when Gabby Williams drained a clutch three to go away Les Bleues down one with 5 seconds left.
The drama was not over.
With the clock hitting zero, Williams threw up a desperation shot that banked in off the backboard and appeared to tie the sport at 67-67 because the buzzer sounded.
A video replay, nonetheless, confirmed Williams was contained in the arch good for 2 factors, leaving the U.S. celebrating a breathless one level victory and the fearless French shocked.
“I’m unhappy for them as a result of they fought, they’ve been working exhausting for 2 months,” stated French coach Jean-Aime Toupane. “If you see what they confirmed tonight, it’s fairly outstanding, I tip my hat to this crew.
“They gave a lot, it got here right down to small issues however that’s how sport goes.”
The win not solely gave the American ladies the file for longest Olympic gold medal streak in a standard crew sport however put the US prime of the general medal desk.
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The ultimate medal to be awarded was the US’ fortieth gold of the Video games, tying it with China however taking prime spot with extra silver – 44 to 27.
A’ja Wilson had a sport excessive 21 factors for the U.S. whereas Kelsey Plum and Kahleah Copper every chipped in with 12.
Williams led France with 19.
Diana Taurasi didn’t play within the ultimate however made historical past anyway taking a sixth gold medal, making her essentially the most adorned basketball participant in Olympic historical past, yet one more than long-time crew mate Sue Hen.
“It was an ideal sport. That was an ideal French crew, an ideal crowd,” stated Taurasi. “However we discovered a option to win and that’s what these video games come right down to is discovering option to win.
“It’s exhausting.
“You suppose it’s going to be fairly and all the pieces, each shot goes to go in.
“However the will to win is, is usually the one factor you want.”