The U.S. Women’s Basketball Basketball Slam Slam at the Bercy Arena in Los Alamos (Lasinia)

Led by A’Ja Wilson, who scored 21 points, the U.S. women’s team beat France on Sunday, 67-66, becoming the first basketball team in Olympic history to win eight consecutive gold medals. The US has won 61 games in a row at the Summer Games.

Brittney Griner, who was competing internationally for the first time since was freed in a prisoner swap 20 months ago with Russia, said that upon winning, her emotions were “all over the place” during the medal ceremony following the game.

Young was a key scorer for the U.S team in the quarterfinals and semifinals, but stopped playing in the fourth quarter. But not before the U.S. rallied with key three-pointers and free throws by Kelsey Plum.

Cheryl Reeve, the U.S. women’s basketball coach, said that it was difficult to get to their identity of being able to play and score. “We were the two best defensive teams in the tournament, and we both showed that. It was ugly, but it was ugly for a reason. We both made it hard for each other.”

The Americans were tested by the French team and had to dig deep to get the win at Bercy Arena. They were treated to a stunning moment with France’s Gabby Williams hitting a jumper at the buzzer. But the shot was ruled a two-pointer, not a three, giving the U.S. a one-point win.

It was a bit ugly. But no matter what whether it’s good, ugly, whatever we just want to come out on top, and we did that, and we go home with this gold,” Breanna Stewart told reporters afterwards.

The fight for national bragging rights over gold medals — considered by many countries to be the most coveted prize — came down to the wire and in the end China and the U.S. tied with forty apiece.

Russia, once a world powerhouse at both the Summer and Winter Olympics, was almost invisible in Paris, fielding only fifteen athletes and barely even registering in the total medal count.

Another country that punched above its weight is Australia. Only 26 million people, the Aussies have 53 medals, eighteen of them gold.

“Their performances are a reminder of how far we’ve come and the boundless potential that still lies ahead,” she said. “We couldn’t be prouder of their achievements and the example they set for future generations of athletes.”

Olympic & Paralympic CEO Sarah Hirshland told the outlet earlier this week that the athletes’ achievements are a testament to Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded school programs.

Women in Sport said that the U.S. ranked eighth for medal parity between men and women at the Games. There is a direct correlation between women’s sport and broader social equality, and the top 10 countries rank above average on the United Nations’ gender inequality index.

And sexism was a persistent issue throughout the Games, which started with a Eurostar commentator getting dropped for his remarks about women swimmers and saw an international controversy over the participation of two women boxers.

While Olympic organizers claim that they have achieved full gender parity in Paris, athletes and researchers say there is still more to be done to give women the same opportunities and resources as men.

The only woman to win the 400 meter hurdles in back-to-back Games was Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who smashed her own world record. Tara Davis- Woodhall and Jasmine Moore earned gold and bronze medals in the long jump, while sprinter Gabby Thomas won three gold medals.

Rugby and TikTok star Ilona Maher has helped put her sport on the radar of many individuals, including American businesswoman Michele Kwak, who announced a $4 million donation to the US. The women’s rugby sevens team won the gold medal at the Olympics.

While the women’s water polo team fell short in its quest for a historic fourth consecutive gold medal, it won headlines and a multi-year sponsorship deal from its high-profile hype man, the rapper Flavor Flav.

The American gymnast became the most decorated US Olympian of all time, when she won four medals in Paris. She helped lead Team USA to gold in the women’s all-around gymnastics final in a much-anticipated comeback.

The US is appealing the ruling that ordered gymnast JordanChiles to return her bronze medal from the floor exercise final after a score reversal.