Yes, Team USA knew winning another gold would not be easy. But, an eighth-straight gold was more difficult than expected, as France challenged the United States for a full 40 minutes. Only when the final buzzer sounded on the 67-66 win was the Americans’ golden quest complete.
France established the terms of engagement in the opening quarter, with the hosts successfully forcing Team USA to play scrum-style basketball. Deflections, strips, blocks and boards, rather than points scored, defined the opening frame. France’s inability to defend without fouling, gifting the Americans 10 free throw attempts, helped the United States claim a 15-9 advantage after the first.
The second quarter saw much of the same. The Americans’ search for a big, momentum-swinging play that would sap the French’s spirit instead resulted in too many turnovers and no offensive rhythm. In the first half, Team USA coughed up the ball 13 times. France remained unfazed, playing with relentless energy even as point-blank scoring opportunities repeatedly rolled off the rim. With just over four minutes to go before the half, their persistence paid off as the home team tied it up at 20 all on a Valeriane Ayayi jumper. After a free throw from Breanna Stewart and beautiful paint score from A’ja Wilson gave Team USA a three-point edge, Marine Fauthoux drained a desperation 3-point heave as the shot clock sounded, evening the score and igniting the French faithful.
A jumper from Janelle Salaün then boosted Les Bleues to the lead approximately one minute before halftime, with only a last-moment tip-in by Napheesa Collier saving the Americans from trailing at the break. Instead, it was knotted at 25-25. Gabby Williams led the French with eight first-half points, along with three boards and three steals. Wilson had a team-high six points and nine boards for the Americans. Collier also had nine rebounds, while Stewart added five points, a pair of steals and a block.
Halftime did not help the Americans. As France’s length continued to inhibit Team USA’s ability to finish inside, the French began the second half on 10-0 run, which included a timeout-forcing triple from Ayayi. A corner 3-pointer by Kelsey Plum, created off a drive by Kahleah Copper, began to turn the tide in the Americans’ favor. Yet, a couple of buckets by Leïla Lacan, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun, kept the United States from reeling off an uninterrupted string of scores.
Team USA also took their defense to another level, powered by Wilson, the back-to-back WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. With under two and half minutes to go in the third, Sabrina Ionescu found Wilson on a wide-open slip to the basket, giving the Americans, who trailed by 10 earlier in the period, a one-point advantage, 41-40. But just when Team USA appeared poised to begin to pull away, Marine Johannès conjured some of her signature shotmaking magic, swishing a 3-pointer over a contest from Wilson. A pair of free throws from Wilson then gave the Americans a bit of breathing room entering the fourth, 45-43.
After a rather high-scoring third quarter, the game again ground into slog in the fourth, with points hard to come by in the opening minutes. The Americans also had to contend with an unforgiving whistle, alert to any perceived violation by Team USA. But, the fearless offensive aggression of Wilson and Copper, both of whom dared the French to try to slow them as they drove to the basket, kept Team USA in the back-and-forth battle and, eventually, allowed them to prevail.
However, Williams fired a pair of final salvos for the French. After Plum seemed to have iced the win at the free throw line, giving Team USA a 65-61 edge, Williams hit a triple over Wilson to cut the margin to a single point. Two more free throws by Copper then appeared to confirm the American victory, only for Williams to threaten to send the game into overtime with a buzzer-beating basket that was a step inside the 3-point line, allowing Team USA to escape 67-66.
Wilson finished with a double-double of 21 points and 13 rebounds, in addition to four blocks. Copper scored 10 of her 12 points in the fourth quarter; she also had five boards and two steals. Plum matched Copper with 12 points, while Collier contributed seven points and 11 rebounds. Williams’ 19 points and seven rebounds led France, with Ayayi and Johannès both adding nine points.
Ezi elevates the Aussies to bronze
It had been a somewhat disappointing Olympics for Ezi Magbegor. The most talented player for the Australian side, she had not scored more than 14 points or grabbed more than six rebounds in a single game across the Olympic competition.
All that changed in the bronze medal match. Magbegor displayed the depth and breadth of her abilities with a 30-point and 13-rebound double-double masterpiece. She also added three blocks and two steals to help Australia hold off Belgium, 85-81, and claim the bronze.
Alanna Smith served as Magbegor’s supporting star with a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds. Smith powered the pivotal run by the Opals in the middle of the fourth quarter. With the game tied at 69 all, the Aussies scored the next seven points, with six of them from Smith. That gave Australia the 76-69 edge, enough of a cushion as Belgium fired their best shot.
Emma Meesseman once again was brilliant for the Belgians with 23 points and five boards, while Julie Vanloo finished with 26 points and 11 assists. If not for the absence of Julie Allemand, Belgium likely would have ended their second Olympic appearance with a medal; instead, a six-point overtime loss to France in the semifinals was followed by four-point defeat to Australia.
Wilson named Olympic MVP
Team USA’s A’ja Wilson was named MVP of the women’s Olympic basketball tournament, averaging a double-double of 18.7 points and 10.2 rebounds across the six American victories.
Breanna Stewart joined Wilson on the All-Star Five, along with France’s Gabby Williams, Australia’s Alanna Smith and Belgium’s Emma Meesseman. Williams also was named the Best Defensive Player of the tournament. Rena Wakama, head coach of Nigeria, the first team from Africa to advance to the quarterfinals, was honored as the Best Coach.
