The men’s and women’s USA Basketball Team emerged victorious at the 2024 Paris Olympics. They also get to bring home the coolest souvenir: a gold medal. On Saturday (August 10), the men’s basketball team went head-to-head with France. Thanks to a flurry of buckets from Stephen Curry in the fourth quarter, the USA was able to bring home the gold — finishing with a score of 98-87. Curry ended the game with 24 points, making eight 3-pointers and providing five assists.
“We have the most incredible group of players,” U.S. Coach Steve Kerr said in a press release. “They were all so unselfish throughout this whole thing, through all the noise, all the pressure.”Kerr continues: “I think we might be the only team in the world whose fans are ashamed of them if they get a silver medal, you know? And that’s the pressure that we face. But our players, and you saw Steph, they love the pressure. They appreciate this atmosphere, and they were fantastic.”
Team USA earns its eighth-straight gold medal in basketball
Team USA made history with its eighth-straight gold medal in basketball, thanks to the women’s division, nearly one day later. France and the USA played a fiery game, but the USA emerged victorious with a score of 67-66. The win marks the longest Olympic gold medal streak in a traditional team sport. The USA Women’s National Team has even passed their male counterparts, who won seven straight gold medals from 1936-1968.
A’ja Wilson was a standout, leading her team with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks. “That was a great game, a great French team, a great crowd, but we found a way to win,” said player Diana Taurasi in a statement. “That’s what these games come down to, is finding a way to win. You think it’s going to be pretty and every shot is going to go in, but the will to win is sometimes the only thing you need.”