Team USA fans are breathing a huge sigh of relief after in an exceptionally competitive gold medal game. Those fans include not just former President Barack Obama but also current and future WNBA players who were thrilled (and probably more than a little relieved) to see their teammates and friends take home gold. The former president is known to be a major hoops fan, so it was no surprise that he congratulated the team on their win and their continuing Olympic dynasty.
What a game! Eight Olympic gold medals in a row – congrats to the women’s team on an incredible win! — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) , who plays for the and was part of the WNBA All-Star team that beat Team USA during All-Star Weekend, loved watching the game, and pointed out that it doesn't matter what happened during the game, because the W looks the same no matter what. what a GAME. — Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) 🥇A WIN IS A WIN.
CONGRATS LADIES!!! — Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) UConn star and future WNBA player Paige Bueckers congratulated the team on their win. With her likely to be drafted into the W in 2025, this might be the last time she'll be able to watch this game — or any Olympics coverage — from her couch for a very long while. Golden again 🏅 — Paige Bueckers (@paigebueckers1) of the got hot late in the game, making baskets when her team needed them most.
Copper's teammate couldn't resist commenting. In Kahleah we trust. — Natasha Cloud (@T_Cloud4) Cloud was thrilled for her gold medal-winning teammates, Copper and , as well as the entire team.
Naw frfr happy for all my good sis🥇 — Natasha Cloud (@T_Cloud4) And if you need proof that not even country affiliations can break the bonds of teammates, Breanna Stewart and were seen comforting France sharpshooter Gabby Williams after the game was over. Williams, who drained a basket at the buzzer that would have been a game-tying 3-pointer if her foot hadn't been on the line, went to UConn just like Stewart and Taurasi and played in the WNBA. Stewie and Tarausi and Sue Bird consoling Gabby Williams (who played at UConn) who is just devastated.
— Ann Killion (@annkillion) Williams' gutsy and relentless play earned her more respect from U.S. players and fans, whose numbers have swelled after watching her incredible performance.
This right here. respect. — (@E_Williams_1) There were a few more postgame moments that warmed the hearts of even the most ice-cold sports fans.
The members of the gold medal-winning men's team, including LeBron James and Bam Adebayo, paid respect to their fellow gold medal-winning hoopers after the game. Gold recognize gold. 😎🤝 USA women's basketball players dapped up the men's stars in attendance after their win.
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) Just like they did yesterday after the USA men's basketball team took gold over France, Nike had a video ready for the women's victory. Even worthy opponents can’t take their crown. 👑 That’s eight straight gold medals for Women’s Basketball.
— Nike (@Nike) There was a beautiful moment between and the family of Kobe Bryant. After the buzzer, Ionescu found them courtside and immediately embraced them. An INCREDIBLE moment: Sabrina Ionescu ( ) embraces the Bryant family after Team USA captures gold at the .
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) But the best and most emotional moment of the entire game, and perhaps of the entire tournament, came from Brittney Griner. Two years ago she was detained in a Russian prison, fighting trumped-up drug charges, not knowing when or even if she'd ever see her U.S.
homeland again. Her long detention is one of the reasons Griner said she wanted to play for Team USA: to show the love and pride she has for her country. And you could see how much it meant to her on the medal stand.
With the gold medal hanging from her neck, she stood with her hand over her heart as the national anthem played, tears freely streaming down her face. After Team USA's win in women's basketball, the Star-Spangled Banner rings out one last time at the . 🇺🇸 — NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) Brittney Griner started to get emotional as she received her gold medal and listened to the USA national anthem 🥺🇺🇸 — ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) Man, seeing Brittany Griner up there crying on the medal stand is incredible.
Listening to that anthem must have meant more to her than maybe anybody else in the Olympics. What a moment. — Ethan Budowsky (@ethanbudowsky).
