Current:Home > MarketsA'ja Wilson dragged US women's basketball to Olympic gold in an ugly win over France-LoTradeCoin
A'ja Wilson dragged US women's basketball to Olympic gold in an ugly win over France
View Date:2024-12-23 16:44:36
PARIS — A'ja Wilson is the best player on the planet and it’s not even close.
The U.S. women's basketball team has its eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal because of it.
After decades of cakewalking to Olympic gold medals and World Cup titles, the Americans were tested like never before by France on Sunday at the 2024 Paris Olympics. They were hounded relentlessly from the opening tip. Trailed multiple times. Heckled by a raucous crowd that both loves Les Bleues and was eager to see chaos.
But the U.S. women’s streak wasn’t going to end on Wilson’s watch.
"She was incredible," Kelsey Plum, who is also teammates with Wilson on the Las Vegas Aces, said after the Americans beat France 67-66. "But that's who she is."
Wilson was named the Olympic tournament MVP. She was No. 2 in scoring and rebounds, and led the 12-team field in blocks.
Against France, she finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds, both game highs. She also had four blocks, including two monster ones early in the third quarter that kept France from pulling away when the Americans couldn’t buy a bucket, be it in Euros, dollars or francs.
"I leaned on my defense more. And I think that's kind of what got things going, not only for myself but for my team as well," Wilson said. "Once we got it rocking and rolling on the defensive end, we got more energy and smoke to us when it come to the offensive side."
The Americans are a Who's Who of women's basketball, and the general public is accustomed to seeing them roll over opponents. But the gap between the U.S. women and the rest of the world is narrowing, as this tournament showed.
This was the ugliest game the U.S. women had in, well, forever. And if we’re being honest, they had no business winning it. They finished with 19 turnovers and were a paltry 19 of 56 (34%) from the floor.
But Wilson dragged them to the top of the medals podium. If you can’t appreciate that, if you aren’t impressed by her or are still hung up on who wasn’t on this roster, that’s your problem.
Wilson has proven her value, time and again. First with a national title at South Carolina, which reveres her so much it erected a statue of her. Now with the Aces, whom she’s led to the last two WNBA titles.
She’s been the WNBA’s MVP twice and is on track to win a third this season. But this game might be her ultimate statement. With the Olympic title, and the dynasty, on the line, Wilson shone brighter than anyone.
Oh, and this gold medal? It was the last of these Olympics to be awarded, and allowed the United States to tie China for most at the Paris Games.
"When it comes to showing up and showing out, I'm always going to put my money on women," Wilson said. "Because we're just phenomenal."
Wilson sure is. And because of her, the U.S. women are Olympic champions once again.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
The USA TODAY app brings you every Team USA medal — right when it happens. Download for full Olympics coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and much more.
veryGood! (56)
Related
- Jason Kelce Offers Up NSFW Explanation for Why Men Have Beards
- New Mexico ranks last when it comes to education. Will a mandatory 180 days in the classroom help?
- New York library won't let man with autism use children's room. His family called the restriction 'callous'
- Putin’s crackdown casts a wide net, ensnaring the LGBTQ+ community, lawyers and many others
- Ex-Duke star Kyle Singler draws concern from basketball world over cryptic Instagram post
- Horoscopes Today, March 7, 2024
- Jersey Shore’s Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino and Wife Lauren Sorrentino Welcome Baby No. 3
- Conservation groups sue to stop a transmission line from crossing a Mississippi River refuge
- Trump has promised to ‘save TikTok’. What happens next is less clear
- South Dakota Legislature ends session but draws division over upcoming abortion rights initiative
Ranking
- AP Top 25: Oregon remains No. 1 as Big Ten grabs 4 of top 5 spots; Georgia, Miami out of top 10
- That's just 'Psycho,' Oscars: These 10 classic movies didn't win a single Academy Award
- Crew of the giant Icon of the Seas cruise ship rescues 14 people adrift in the sea
- Here's how much you need to earn to live comfortably in major U.S. cities
- 'Serial swatter': 18-year-old pleads guilty to making nearly 400 bomb threats, mass shooting calls
- Women's basketball needs faces of future to be Black. Enter JuJu Watkins and Hannah Hidalgo
- 'They do not care': Ex-officer fights for answers in pregnant teen's death, searches for missing people of color
- What to know about abortion provider Dr. Caitlin Bernard, a guest at State of the Union
Recommendation
-
Jana Kramer’s Ex Mike Caussin Shares Resentment Over Her Child Support Payments
-
Women's basketball conference tournaments: Tracking scores, schedules for top schools
-
Paul Simon to receive PEN America’s Literary Service Award
-
Cole Brauer becomes 1st American woman to race sailboat alone and nonstop around world
-
Prosecutor failed to show that Musk’s $1M-a-day sweepstakes was an illegal lottery, judge says
-
'Survivor' season 46: Who was voted off and why was there a Taylor Swift, Metallica battle
-
Gal Gadot announces the birth of her fourth daughter: Ori
-
US fencers raise concerns about biased judging, impact on Paris Olympic team