USA women barely hold on to 8-Games gold streak

The U.S. women’s 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.

It was the closest — and maybe sweetest win — of any during the streak.

“Maybe they won’t say it’s just easy and we walk in and just win gold,” said U.S. center Brittney Griner. who broke down in tears when she was presented her third gold medal. “Maybe they’ll stop saying that, because, like I said, we see everybody’s best shot. And we saw the shot that France gave us.”

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

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.

The eight straight golds broke a tie with the American men’s program that won seven in a row from 1936-68. The women’s victory came less than 24 hours after the U.S. men’s 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.

Unlike the men’s game, this one came down to the final second and one last shot.

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.

Taurasi, who didn’t play in the gold medal game, has been humble about the potential record, saying she cares more about the team winning then her individual success.

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



(AP Photo Mark J. Terrill)