Katie Ledecky, Noah Lyles, LeBron James, Simone Biles... Many names have contributed to the United States of America, winning the medal table at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. However, it could not have happened without the last gold medal at stake, that of women's basketball, which closed the competition before the closing ceremony in which the baton was handed over to Los Angeles. The women's Dream Team, as did the men's team, beat France in Paris (66-67) and prolonged their hegemony. They have won eight gold medals in a row, the most ever, and their legend Diana Taurasi has now won six in a row. 

Also that hardware was needed for the Americans to tie China for the most gold medals with 40, but at the end, the U.S. easily won the total medal count with 126. Aside from the 40 gold, the Americans won 42 silver and 44 bronze.

"I saw the medal count beforehand, so I knew," said U.S. women's coach Cheryl Reeve, who said she thought to herself, "That's what we need, more pressure." The U.S. lost a bronze medal Sunday when the International Olympic Committee said it was reallocating the bronze given to Jordan Chiles in the women's floor final to Romanian Ana Barbosu. U.S. Olympic officials are appealing.

China came in second in the total medal race with 91, winning 27 silver and 24 bronze. Japan was a distant third with 20 gold medals, 45 overall. Great Britain won 65 medals, but only 14 were gold for an overall ranking of seventh.

The last time the US didn't top the standings in gold medals was at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, when the Americans finished second to China, 48-36. The U.S. has won the most overall medals in eight consecutive Summer Games. The last time the Americans failed to top the medal leaderboard was the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. The "Unified Team" featuring athletes from ex-Soviet republics won both the most golds (45) and total medals (112), while the Americans were second in both categories with 37 golds and 108 medals.

The U.S. had been battling with China for the lead in gold medals the past several days and entered Sunday, the final day of competition, trailing China 39-38. China picked up an early gold medal Sunday when Li Wenwen won the top medal in women's +81kg weightlifting. The U.S. followed with a gold when Jennifer Valente defended her women's omnium title in cycling track.

The United States won a total of five medals on Sunday, including a silver in women's freestyle 76kg (wrestling), a team silver in women's volleyball and a bronze in men's water polo. Three years ago at the Tokyo Olympics, the U.S. beat China with 39 gold medals to 38. The U.S. won 113 overall medals in Tokyo. The Americans were far more dominant at the Rio Olympics in 2016, when they won 46 gold medals to 27 for Great Britain and 26 for China.

US Team crowns itself

Understanding that the battle would be close in their last basketball match against France, with little option to break it. Between Breanna Stewart, constantly generating advantages, and A'Ja Wilson they opened a window (57-60, 38'). Minimal, but it was enough to make France manoeuvre. Williams took charge, cutting the margin to one point with a minute and a half to play.

The French naturalised American gave the necessary air, but also took it away soon after. Kahleah Cooper made a lay-up, and Williams tried to answer from long distance.But forced by time, she did not even touch the hoop, giving the United States a key advantage (59-62, 39'). And although they didn't take advantage of it at first, 'USA' repeated key defence to close out the gold. Fauthoux ran out of space between Wilson and Stewart, and on the free throw A'Ja opened the margin to two possessions difference.

Gabby Williams cut back from three to give away a final decided on the last possession. Cooper, cold-blooded, made it three from the free throw. France, with all of Paris behind them, looked for a miracle. Once again Williams, who wanted to shoot from three, stepped forward and took a two-point shot at the buzzer which he put in. France was down by one (66-67) with gold for the United States and victory in the medal standings.