PARIS — France was the official opponent; Team USA, its own worst enemy. One or the other? The Americans could prevail. But both? That’s a tough road. And against a hungry, home-crowd-boosted team like France, it certainly looked like the U.S. was picking a bad game to play a bad game.
And then, somehow, it got worse. After what could be argued was the worst half of basketball the U.S. women have played in the world in a (now) 61-game win streak, France went on an 8-0 run to start the second half and any certainty of “It’s Team USA, of course they’ll do well, of course they’ll come out of the second half different,” evaporated as quickly as the buffers the Americans tried to build up during the game.
Clinging to a one-point lead with 1:32 remaining, it was Kahleah Copper’s number that was called for the play. She needed to score to give Team USA a three-point lead. The Americans had never run this play in a game before, Copper hadn’t yet been called as the “go-ahead” player at a crucial moment in these Games, but on a team that believes any player can step up when her number is called — even after 38 minutes of frustration — everyone on Team USA’s bench felt confident.
As she walked onto the floor, Diana Taurasi, the most decorated team athlete in Olympic history, pulled Copper toward her and told her, “Do what you do.”
And then she did it.
The game wasn’t decided until a few possessions later, when Gabby Williams’ shot was ruled a 2-pointer, not a 3, making the final score 67-66. But from the bench, where players said they had a good view of Williams’ foot, the celebration had already begun.
It was a celebration surrounded by relief.
“These Games are tough. Everyone always thinks these Games are going to be easy because we win gold medals,” Taurasi said. “That was a tough win.”
INCREDIBLE ENDING IN PARIS. 😱
Gabby Williams hit the ball in at the final whistle, but her FOOT was on the three-point line. TEAM USA wins by one point.#Olympic Games in Paris photo.twitter.com/DJI7YxfVMl
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 11, 2024
Make no mistake, this was not the American team that had swept previous tournaments to win the previous seven Olympic gold medals, by margins of 10, 20, or 30-plus. This was not the kind of play on which Team USA had built its reputation, and not the kind of play that seemed worthy of eight consecutive gold medals, let alone one. The Americans lost the ball 19 times. They couldn’t make a shot from beyond the 3-point line to stop the bleeding, and they were somehow worse near the basket.
The Americans missed 15 shots from two feet (some contested, some not). They made uncharacteristic mistakes because of the French defensive pressure or, simply, the pressure. And in the end, it nearly cost them the victory.
But the streak continues with eight consecutive gold medals. The U.S. has now won 61 in a row, including this narrow, tense victory.
A’ja Wilson, who like her teammates had a first half she’d rather forget, was the savior in the second half, making 4 of 5 shots, but even she made uncharacteristic mistakes, including a displacement foul at the elbow (a good spot for her) with 42 seconds left and a 3-point lead.
“I stopped looking for calls,” Wilson said. “I leaned more on my defense and I think that got things going not only for me but for my teammates.”
Even with a rough first half, Wilson finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds, but was the only starter to finish in double figures. And in what many expected to be a swan song for Taurasi, a six-time Olympian, the game was never certain enough to bring her off the bench.
One of one. ☝️
Diana Taurasi makes history with her SIXTH gold medal.#Olympic Games in Paris photo.twitter.com/2Lc448bIzS
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 11, 2024
The chemistry and flow that showed in spurts during the Olympics seemed to be missing in the biggest game, which coach Cheryl Reeve attributed to a tough and physical French defense. “We struggled to find our identity, which is being able to play in transition and score,” she said. “It was ugly for a reason. We were both making it hard on each other. We had to go through some real gut-check moments.”
Reeve had said during the Olympics that given the lack of preparation time this team had together, they would tinker with the rotations and lineups until the very end, and perhaps they would be happy with what they had. But ultimately, the rotations never created the kind of separation the world has become accustomed to, and the flow that had been established intermittently in previous games never emerged.
Sabrina Ionescu, the player brought to France as the de facto reserve point guard, didn’t come on until the third quarter, despite the team having 13 turnovers in the first half. Jewell Loyd, a player Reeve had identified as someone the U.S. needed to win a gold medal, was the only player besides Taurasi who didn’t come on. Jackie Young, the star player of the last three games for this team, was subbed out with three minutes to go, finishing with two points and three turnovers.
Reeve talked about how hard it was to achieve what this team was trying to do. To be perfect. To be the team that raises the bar year after year. To play with a target on their back and get everyone’s best shot. France certainly gave them that (although they did give the US a big assist).
Breanna Stewart called it “a little ugly.” Wilson said it “wasn’t the prettiest game.” But on Sunday night in Paris, Team USA extended its winning streak, claimed another gold medal and stayed on top of the world. The Americans did what they said was hard and certainly made it look that way. It was a different feeling for this dynasty, even if the result was the same as it almost always has been.
Required reading
(Photo: Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images)
