A’ja Wilson dragged US women’s basketball to Olympic gold-medal win

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.
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