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Kahleah Copper was huge for the Team USA women’s basketball team during Sunday’s 67-66 win, scoring 12 points off the bench while adding five rebounds and two steals.
It was an incredible eighth straight gold medal for the women’s basketball team, though this one couldn’t have been closer after France’s Gabby Williams hit a shot at the buzzer that would have sent the game to overtime had her feet not been on the line.
Close or not, the Americans are gold medalists yet again, and Copper wants that added to her title:
Copper didn’t always play a huge role for the United States during the Paris Games, but she was ready to make an impact on Sunday.
“Great players show up whenever their name is called,” she told reporters. “I think the story of my career is just me staying ready, the preparation meeting, the opportunity and then just taking off from there. I think I just, I’m that player whenever my name is called, I’m going to go out there and give it all I had.”
Both Copper and Kelsey Plum (12 points, four assists) provided a huge boost off the bench, while A’ja Wilson (21 points, 13 rebounds, four blocks) continued her dominance in the win, ultimately winning the tournament MVP. She was the best player in Paris and it wasn’t particularly close.
But Copper made her impact felt, too, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
