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olympicsAugust 11, 2024

PARIS (AP) — A'ja Wilson scored 21 points and the U.S. women's basketball team survived the biggest challenge of its unprecedented run to eight straight Olympic gold medals with a 67-66 win over France at the Paris Games on Sunday.

DOUG FEINBERG, Associated Press
United States' Kelsey Plum (5) reacts after a three pointer during a women's gold medal basketball game at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
United States' Kelsey Plum (5) reacts after a three pointer during a women's gold medal basketball game at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Marieme Badiane, right, (22), of France, shoots for a basket as United States' Breanna Stewart, left, (10) and United States' A'ja Wilson (9) attempt to block during a women's gold medal basketball game between the United States and France at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, Pool)
Marieme Badiane, right, (22), of France, shoots for a basket as United States' Breanna Stewart, left, (10) and United States' A'ja Wilson (9) attempt to block during a women's gold medal basketball game between the United States and France at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, Pool)ASSOCIATED PRESS
United States' A'ja Wilson (9) shoots for a basket during a women's gold medal basketball game between the United States and France at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, Pool)
United States' A'ja Wilson (9) shoots for a basket during a women's gold medal basketball game between the United States and France at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, Pool)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Marieme Badiane (22), of France, reacts during a women's gold medal basketball game at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Marieme Badiane (22), of France, reacts during a women's gold medal basketball game at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)ASSOCIATED PRESS
United States' Jackie Young (13) and Marieme Badiane (22), of France, go after a loose ball during a women's gold medal basketball game at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
United States' Jackie Young (13) and Marieme Badiane (22), of France, go after a loose ball during a women's gold medal basketball game at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)ASSOCIATED PRESS
United States' Napheesa Collier (11) and Marine Fauthoux (4), of France, go after a loose ball during a women's gold medal basketball game at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
United States' Napheesa Collier (11) and Marine Fauthoux (4), of France, go after a loose ball during a women's gold medal basketball game at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)ASSOCIATED PRESS
United States' A'ja Wilson (9) battles to shoot for goal as Dominique Malonga (14), of France, and Sarah Michel Boury (10), of France, attempt to block, during a women's gold medal basketball game between the United States and France at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (Aris Messinis/Pool Photo via AP)
United States' A'ja Wilson (9) battles to shoot for goal as Dominique Malonga (14), of France, and Sarah Michel Boury (10), of France, attempt to block, during a women's gold medal basketball game between the United States and France at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. (Aris Messinis/Pool Photo via AP)ASSOCIATED PRESS

PARIS (AP) — A'ja Wilson scored 21 points and the U.S. women's basketball team survived the biggest challenge of its unprecedented run to eight straight Olympic gold medals with a 67-66 win over France at the Paris Games on Sunday.

No team had been able to push the Americans during this impressive streak of 61 consecutive wins. Only two of those victories had been by single digits before the game against France.

The eight straight golds broke a tie with the American men’s program that won seven in a row from 1936-68. The women’s victory came less than 24 hours after the U.S. men’s team also beat France in the title game. This was the first time in Olympic history that both gold medal games featured the same two teams.

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Unlike the men's game this one came down to the final minute and one last shot by France that was just inside the 3-point line

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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

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