The U.S. women's basketball team has a chance to close out the 2024 Olympics with a historic title. In the final event on the Paris Games slate before Sunday's Closing Ceremony, the United States will meet France in the women's basketball gold medal game. The Americans, who are seven-time-defending Olympic champions, will try to become the first team in any sport to ever win eight straight golds.
Team USA entered the competition in Paris having not dropped a single Olympic contest since all the way back at the 1992 Barcelona Games. And head coach Cheryl Reeve's squad hasn't shown any real signs of a potential letdown in its bid for an eighth consecutive gold.
Powered by two-time WNBA MVPs A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, Team USA won has won its five games by an average margin of 18.6 points. The Americans' closest games have been a 13-point win over Belgium in group play and a 14-point win over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.
As the U.S. goes for another Olympic title, France will be vying for its first-ever gold. The French have never won an Olympic title in basketball, though Victor Wembanyama and the men's team could end that drought against the U.S. on Saturday.
But regardless of the men's result, the French women will still have a shot to make history.
France's only other appearance in an Olympic women's final came at the 2012 London Games, where the Americans rolled to a 36-point win. So, will Team USA cruise to a record-breaking title? Or will the French close out the 2024 Games with a momentous upset for gold on home soil?
How to Watch the Gold Medal Showdown
Team USA and France will battle for gold on Sunday, Aug. 11. Tipoff from Bercy Arena in Paris is slated for 9:30 a.m. ET/6:30 a.m. PT.
USA-France will be shown on NBC and Peacock. The gold medal game will also be available to stream here:
France's Roster and Key Players
France's roster features four players with WNBA experience: Valériane Ayayim, Marine Johannès, Iliana Rupert and Gabby Williams. In a comeback overtime win against Belgium in the semifinals, Williams posted a team-high 18 points while Ayayim had 17 and Rupert added 15.
Williams leads France in points (14.8) and assists (5.4) per game, while Marieme Badiane is averaging a team-high 5.6 rebounds.
Team USA's Legacy and Pursuit of History
Team USA has captured nine of the 12 gold medals that have been awarded since women's basketball was introduced at the 1976 Montreal Games.
The Americans enter the gold medal game riding a 60-game winning streak at the Olympics. The last time Team USA dropped an Olympic contest was in the semifinals of the 1992 Olympics, where the Americans left with bronze.
Diana Taurasi enters the gold medal game with a chance to become the single-most-decorated basketball player in Olympic history. She's currently tied with former teammate Sue Bird for the most basketball golds with five apiece.
A Matchup for the Ages: France vs. Team USA
The United States women's basketball team advanced to their eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal game with an 85-64 victory over Australia on Friday behind the leadership of the New York Liberty's Breanna Stewart, who scored 16 points.
The U.S. jumped out to an early lead on Australia, but only led 20-16 after the first quarter. The Americans put the game away in the second quarter, starting the period with a 12-0 run. The U.S. led 45-27 at the half.
"I think we just continue to play unselfish basketball, making sure that we're moving the ball, that we're finding best shot," Stewart told NBC Olympics' Mike Tirico. "Really starting with our defense and scoring as much as we can in transition, knowing that we have depth that nobody else does in this tournament, and making sure that we got where we wanted to be. Now we have one more game to get the gold medal."
The Americans, who extended their Olympic winning streak to 60 consecutive games, will face either France or Belgium on Sunday.
The U.S. are trying to become the first team to win eight consecutive gold medals, breaking the tie with the American men's program that won seven in a row from 1936-68.
A win Sunday would give Diana Taurasi a record six gold medals. A game after not starting for the first time since the 2004 Olympics, the Americans' most decorated Olympic basketball player didn't enter the game until 2:08 remained in the third quarter with the U.S. up 63-40.
Jackie Young added 14 points, Kahleah Copper 11 and A’ja WIlson 10 for the Americans.
Isobel Borlase led Australia with 11, and Tess Madgen and Ezi Magbegor each had 10.
In addition to her 16 points, Stewart also had six rebounds and five assists.
"It's absolutely incredible and I don't think I could put into words the fact that what we've done with USA basketball, with this national team, 60 straight wins," Stewart said after the win. "But this is the standard, when I first put that USA jersey on, I know that it was gold really or bust. And making sure that you know every time on the court, off the court, the way we prepare ourselves, that we're trying to be the best we can be and reach new heights."
Final Thoughts: A Moment of History in the Making
As the U.S. women's basketball team prepares for their final showdown, the world will be watching with anticipation. Will they achieve the unprecedented feat of eight consecutive gold medals? This game promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the 2024 Paris Olympics and a potential turning point in the sport's history.
