After an instant classic, the U.S. women's national basketball team has won eight consecutive Olympic gold medals, a record for team sports.
Facing host nation France in the 2024 Olympic final, Team USA trailed by as many as 10 points in the second half but chipped away at the deficit and escaped with a 67-66 win. The win would not have been possible without the efforts of Kahleah Copper.
Copper, who made her Olympic debut in 2024, stepped up for Team USA when it mattered most, delivering big moments throughout the fourth quarter of a one-point win that was decided in the final seconds.
As Copper and Team USA take home the gold to continue a dynastic run, take a closer look into her big-time performance on the world's biggest stage in athletics.
USA OLYMPICS MEDAL COUNT:
Overall table | U.S. medal tracker | Who has won gold?
How Kahleah Copper's clutch second half saved USA in gold medal game
Copper finished the game with 12 points, five rebounds and two assists in 22 minutes of playing time. To understand the magnitude of Copper's performance, it's crucial to go beyond the numbers and look at the moments when she stepped up.
To start, Copper scored 10 of her 12 points in the fourth quarter. Consider that Team USA scored 20 points in the final frame, and the math works out to Copper scoring half of the team's points in a crucial quarter where every point was necessary.
The 29-year-old Phoenix Mercury guard stepped to the line to sink all six of her free throw attempts in the fourth, including the two shots with under five seconds remaining that ultimately iced the game for Team USA.
MORE: Team USA wins eighth consecutive Olympic gold in classic thriller
Legendary coach Dawn Staley, who, like Copper, hails from North Philadelphia, was not shy with the praise of her fellow Philadelphian after the game. While Staley is not coaching Team USA this year, she was in attendance to cheer on the Olympic champions.
"She's got a new name," Staley told NBC's Maria Taylor after the game. "It's not North Philly, it's Ice Philly, because she iced the game."
In addition to her ability to get to the line and convert, Copper's layup with 5:09 remaining in the fourth put Team USA ahead by two points and her layup with 79 seconds remaining extended the team's lead to three points down the stretch.
Throughout the tournament, A'ja Wilson was the leader for Team USA, resulting in her winning Olympic MVP honors. In the gold medal game, it was Wilson and Copper who helped lead Team USA to the promised land.
What A'ja said. pic.twitter.com/S5LAjku0BA
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 11, 2024
Wilson echoed her college coach, taking the NSFW route when asked to give a one-word descriptor for Copper, who is no stranger to stepping up when it matters most.
Copper can now add gold medalist to a resume that already includes WNBA Champion and WNBA Finals MVP.
At 29, Ice Philly has done just about everything and in the history books, everyone who tuned into the 2024 women's basketball gold medal game in Paris will remember Copper's contributions.
