In a nail-biting finish at the Paris 2024 Olympics, the United States secured the top spot in the medal table after their women’s basketball team pulled off a dramatic 67-66 victory against France. This last gold medal brought the U.S. level with China’s 40 golds, but the American team clinched the top spot with 44 silver medals compared to China’s 27, and an overall tally of 126 medals.
The final game was a heart-stopping affair, with Team USA trailing by two points with just five minutes left on the clock. The atmosphere in Bercy Arena was electric, with the home crowd in full voice, spurred on by the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron and NBA superstar LeBron James, who had earlier helped the U.S. men’s team to gold.
In a thrilling conclusion, France’s Gabby Williams, who scored 19 points for her team, sank a buzzer-beater, but it was only worth two points as her foot was just inside the three-point line. This meant the USA secured a one-point victory, preserving their unbeaten streak in Olympic women’s basketball since 1992.
The victory was particularly emotional for Brittney Griner, who wept as the American anthem played, marking her first international tournament since her release from a Russian prison in 2022.
This gold marks the U.S. women’s basketball team’s record-breaking eighth consecutive Olympic title and tenth overall. With this win, the United States has topped the Olympic medal table for the fourth consecutive time, a testament to their enduring dominance in global sports.
The Paris 2024 Olympics, spanning 329 medal events over 16 days, will officially conclude with the closing ceremony, marking the end of an unforgettable chapter in Olympic history.
