It’s USA vs. France, Part II. After the two countries clashed in the men’s gold medal game on Saturday, the women take center stage on Sunday afternoon in Paris.
It’s been mostly smooth sailing for Team USA, which handily beat Australia on Friday in their semifinal. France, on the other hand, survived an overtime thriller against Belgium to make it to the final. Team USA is led by a formidable crew of WNBA stars, and despite their loss in the WNBA All-Star Game last month, Team USA has demonstrated why they’re top-tier. They’ll look to add to their history of dominance with an eighth straight gold medal.
France, which is led by Gabby Williams, Valériane Ayayi and Marine Johannes, has never won a gold medal, taking bronze in 2020 and silver in 2012. Can they pull off the upset on their home court? Tune in to find out.
How to watch Olympic gold medal game, USA vs. France
Date: Sunday, August 11
Time: 9:30 am ET | 6:30 am PT
Location: Bercy Arena | Paris, France
Channel: NBCOlympics.com, Peacock, Fubo
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for all the live updates, highlights and more as Team USA takes on host country France for a gold medal.
Live19 updates
Alexia Chery’s basket in the paint gets France within one again.
A’ja Wilson gets fouled again, but misses one of her two free throws yet again. She’s 2/4 on free throws, and soon has another turnover off a bad pass. Luckily for her, Gabby Williams misses the fast break.
Gabby Williams makes a huge three-pointer to get France with one point of the U.S., but Jackie Young follows with a long two. USA 19, France 16.
After playing yesterday, the USA and France men’s teams are in Bercy Arena today to cheer on their women’s counterparts.
France is going on a run now, get back-to-back buckets and tightening the U.S.’s lead to four points. Rebounding has been deadly for France, who continues to get around Team USA to get those offensive rebounds.
After a few misses on both teams, Kahleah Copper delivers for the U.S. to start the second quarter. U.S. now have a 17-9 lead.
Team USA 15, France 9 after one quarter
As it turns out, there’s one person France can’t defend: Brittney Griner. As France misses back-to-back shots, Griner makes two big baskets in the paint to give the U.S. a six-point lead at the end of the first quarter.
It’s been a wild back-and-forth between the two teams, with both teams doing a great job on defense. France is setting a strong pace, and the U.S. is trying its best to regain control.
Alyssa Thomas is fouled, but misses her second free throw. The U.S. rebounds but it’s sent out of bounds — another unfortunate turnover.
Marine Johannes gets a massive layup on the other end. USA 11, France 9. It’s close.
Romane Bernies, who came in off the bench, already has three fouls and is substituted off. Foul trouble might be a blessing for the U.S., who can take advantage of free throws while their shooting is struggling.
Mariema Badiane gets a big blocked shot on Breanna Stewart; soon after, A’ja Wilson misses a shot in the paint. France is going hard on defense and has been really strong on the rebound, and the United States looks caught off-guard.
A’ja Wilson, who is fouled, misses her first free throw, but gets the second. The United States leads 7-5, but that away environment is taking its toll.
France’s Valeriane Ayayi subs out after getting two early fouls. France is a scrappy team, and already has three fouls in the first five minutes of the game.
Some early turnovers for the United States have made this game close, and looks a little scrappy. Gabby Williams gets a tough shot in the paint to give France a 5-4 lead, and cleanly steals the ball from A’ja Wilson on the other end; she has been key for France so far.
Stewart turns over the ball with a traveling violation, and Gabby Williams gets France on the board by sinking a three-pointer. U.S. still up 4-3, for now.
Breanna Stewart scores the first points of the game with a two-pointer, but both teams have struggled to get on the board in these first couple of minutes. It’s already a physical, high-defense game, but A’ja Wilson is able to drive to the basket to give Team USA a 4-0 lead.
And the game begins, with the U.S. winning the tip off. It’s a raucous home crowd in Bercy Arena today, perhaps as expected. The United States will have to overcome essentially an away game environment in order to win this game.
The gold medal race is on the line
Although the United States is absolutely dominant in terms of total medals, Team USA has been neck-and-neck with China throughout these games in terms of who has the most gold medals. China won its 40th and final gold medal earlier this morning in women’s weightlifting; Team USA has 39 after Jennifer Valente won gold in women’s cycling. With a gold medal in this game, Team USA will tie China and will be inarguably dominant in these games.
There’s decades of legacy on the line here, but this USA basketball team has the talent, the depth and the grit to get it done.
Team USA’s starting lineup against France
The U.S. is sticking with what it knows, putting forward the same starting lineup that it has used for the past few games. Chelsea Gray, Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Napheesa Collier will get things started for the United States.
France is starting off with Marine Fauthoux, Valeriane Ayayi, Gabby Williams, Janelle Salaun, and Marieme Badiane in its lineup.
Diana Taurasi has been one of the stories of these games for a reason: The 42-year-old is chasing her sixth straight gold medal. Taurasi is one of only three Americans to attend six Olympic games, and she has been an important veteran presence on this USA roster, which has a number of first-time Olympians.
USA takes on France in the hopes of earning an unprecedented eighth straight gold medal
It comes down to this: a gold medal matchup against France to earn Team USA a historic eighth straight gold medal, and to extend their winning streak to 61 games.
Team USA men’s basketball got it done yesterday, in the first of the gold medal double header against France. Now it’s time for the most dominant basketball team in the world to win theirs.
