The United States women’s national basketball team clinched their eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal in a nail-biting final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, narrowly defeating France by a single point on Sunday. A’ja Wilson emerged as the hero of the game, delivering a stellar performance with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks, earning her the MVP title for the tournament.
Wilson’s outstanding contributions throughout the Olympics played a crucial role in the U.S. team’s success. Over the course of six games held in Lille and Paris, she averaged 18.7 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game, with a remarkable 59.2% shooting accuracy. Her consistent dominance on the court placed her third in scoring, second in rebounding, and fourth in blocks among all players. She also led the tournament with the most double-doubles, recording four.
This marks Wilson’s first Olympic MVP award, adding to her impressive basketball resume. She was also named to the All-Star Five, joined by her American teammate Breanna Stewart. While Stewart didn’t shine as brightly in the final game, she had been a vital player for Team USA throughout the tournament, averaging 16.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.7 blocks.
All-Star Five and Other Award Winners:
A’ja Wilson (USA)
Breanna Stewart (USA)
Marine Johannès (France)
Emma Meesseman (Belgium)
Han Xu (China)
Wilson’s MVP award and the All-Star Five selections highlight her extraordinary impact on the tournament, solidifying her status as one of the top players in women’s basketball. The victory also continues the U.S. team’s legacy of dominance on the Olympic stage, having won every gold medal in women’s basketball since 1996.
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