The USA has been completely superior in women's basketball for a very long time. Seven consecutive Olympic Games gold medals and 59 consecutive wins in Olympic Games contexts. Most things spoke in favor of an eighth consecutive Olympic Games gold medal for the basketball-crazy nation. But in this year's final against the host nation France, it became tighter than in a long time.
The women's basketball final was a pure replay of the men's final. In the men's final, it was a very even story that was decided in the fourth and final period.
The women's final was almost exactly the same.
At halftime, the score was completely even, 25–25. The match image was tight, and both teams had their nerves on the outside.
But in the third period, it opened up more. Despite this, no team was able to get away. Instead, it became a giant drama, where the teams exchanged points with each other down to the final seconds.
With only one second left, at the score of 67–64, France made a shot that was precisely on the line for a three-pointer. But the referee immediately showed that it was inside, and therefore a two-pointer.
The USA thus won the final with 67–66, and secured its eighth consecutive Olympic Games gold medal in women's basketball.
The win was not only important for the basketball team itself, but for the entire country's Olympic team. The basketball final was the absolute last sporting event to take place during the Olympic Games in Paris, and the gold medal meant that the USA surpassed China in the total medal count, and thus took first place.
