"That bi**h" - A'ja Wilson gives NSFW shoutout for Kahleah Cooper's standout performance vs France in gold game
A'ja Wilson came out strong for Team USA in the fourth quarter alongside Phoenix Mercury's Kahleah Copper to seal the gold medal victory on Sunday. Following the 67-66 win, Wilson was asked to react to Copper's performance against France and she responded with a hilarious NSFW shoutout.
The two stars combined for 33 points (9-of-22 shooting) and 18 rebounds.
The Mercury guard had six huge points that were critical in closing the game out. With Jackie Young and Sabrina Ionescu being held in check by France's defense, USA Basketball coach Cheryl Reeve called upon Copper's number in the guard rotation.
A'ja Wilson's comment was shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, by sports radio host Dan Le Batard.
"That bi**h," Wilson said.
Olympic runs usually involve various contributions from different players. It varies due to the sheer amount of talent available on the roster. One night, it could be A'ja Wilson's night, and in the next outing, it could be a different player catching a hot hand on the basketball court.
It is a testament to the kind of depth the Americans deployed in the Paris 2024 Olympics that allowed versatility in Cheryl Reeve's lineup rotations. In a high-pressure game, Team USA responded by maintaining composure and getting timely contributions from various players.
A'ja Wilson talked about securing the gold medal for USA Basketball
After the gold medal finish, Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson praised USA Basketball for establishing an excellent standard in women's basketball for other countries to aspire to, as per U.S. News & World Report's Mark J. Terrill.
"It's amazing," Wilson said. "It truly is a dynasty that we have built here at USAB has been incredible. And I am so proud of the resilience that my team showed. We could have fumbled it many times, but we pulled through. To say I am a two-time gold medalist, I am so blessed."
Despite the offensive struggles they went through, coupled with France's unwavering belief that it could pull off an upset win, Wilson and Team USA were successful in making timely plays at both ends of the court.
The ball club entered this year's Olympics with immense pressure to win its eighth straight gold medal since 1996. France gave the matchup its all as it imposed its will defensively to hamper the USA's offensive process. That resulted in shotmaking shortcomings and costly turnovers, but the entire team came through when it was time to seal the deal.
Wilson finished as the MVP of the women's basketball competition, finishing with an impressive stat line of 18.7 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game.