Group USA escaped by the pores and skin of its tooth in Sunday’s gold-medal sport towards France.
France virtually despatched the sport into time beyond regulation on a miraculous shot. Energy ahead Gabby Williams banked in a buzzer-beater on the sport’s final play. Nonetheless, her foot was on the three-point line, serving to Group USA maintain on to a 67-66 victory.
France proved to be a tricky matchup for the People. Les Bleues pressured 19 turnovers, had 10 steals and went 13-of-13 from the foul line. Williams, a former UConn star, completed with 19 factors, seven rebounds and two assists on 7-of-16 capturing.
France could not cease star American middle A’ja Wilson, although. The 2-time MVP confirmed why she’s the most effective gamers on the earth, main Group USA in scoring and rebounding with 21 factors and 13 rebounds on 6-of-14 capturing in 33 minutes performed.
Wilson additionally knocked down a large shot within the fourth quarter. With Group USA main 56-55 and three:13 remaining, she drove to her left and fired a midrange leap shot. The ball bounced up into the air earlier than going by means of the underside of the web.
In the meantime, American guard Kelsey Plum deserves credit score for stepping up within the third quarter. She drilled two key three-pointers, serving to Group USA erase an eight-point deficit and regain momentum.
The sport was most likely nearer than the People anticipated. Nonetheless, the margin of victory appears insignificant.
Group USA has established itself as a dynasty in girls’s basketball, successful eight consecutive gold medals. Per USA Basketball Communications, that is the longest Olympic gold-medal streak in a conventional staff sport, surpassing the USA Basketball Males’s Nationwide Group, which gained seven straight golds from 1936-68.
