USWNT wins fifth Olympic gold with 1-0 victory over Brazil

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 10: Naomi Girma #4 of Team United States celebrates victory in the Women's Gold Medal match between Brazil and United States of America during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Parc des Princes on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France

The U.S. women's soccer team scored its way to its fifth Olympic gold medal by beating Brazil 1-0 on Mallory Swanson’s early second-half goal in the tournament final Saturday at the Paris Games.

The Americans, who hadn't won gold since the 2012 London Olympics, closed out an undefeated run to the title in their first international campaign under new coach Emma Hayes.

Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher preserved the win with a one-handed save on Adriana’s header in stoppage time at Parc des Princes.

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It was the third victory for the United States over Brazil in an Olympic final. The Americans also beat the Brazilians in the 2004 in Athens and four years later in Beijing.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 10: Mallory Swanson #9 of the United States celebrates scoring a goal against Brazil in the second half during the Women's Gold Medal match during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Parc des Princes on August 10, 2024 in Paris, Fr

Brazil has never finished better than runner up at the Olympics.

Three years ago in Tokyo, the U.S. settled for the bronze medal. The Americans were knocked out in the quarterfinals at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

Swanson's 57th-minute goal came in her 100th appearance with the United States.

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Tom Cruise and former U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe were among those in the crowd.

The U.S. also won gold in 1996 at the Atlanta Games in the first women's soccer tournament at the Olympics.

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