An eighth consecutive gold medal in women’s basketball is within reach for the United States.
The Americans will face home-country France on Sunday morning at Bercy Arena in Paris in the tournament final.
The U.S. (5-0) is riding a 60-game winning streak in Olympic play that dates back to 1992, where they won the bronze medal in Barcelona, Spain. Those games were the last time the Americans didn’t capture gold at a Summer Olympics.
“It’s amazing, understanding what we have accomplished so far,” U.S. forward Breanna Stewart said. “There is one more game until we get the gold. When you wear this jersey and represent the USA, the standard is high, and there is nothing higher.”
France (4-1) is guaranteed its third medal in women’s basketball. The French women last played for the gold in 2012 — taking silver after losing 86-50 to the Americans — and won the bronze medal in the 2020 Tokyo Games.
To get to this matchup with the Americans, France defeated Germany in the quarterfinals and outlasted Belgium 82-75 in overtime in the semifinals. The French have been led by former WNBA All-Defense selection Gabby Williams and the 2023 EuroCup Finals MVP Marine Johannes. Against Belgium, Williams scored nine of her team-high 18 points in overtime.
No players on the French roster currently play in the WNBA, but they aren’t going to simply roll over for the mighty Americans.
“You have to believe if you want to do something special,” Williams said. “What I love is, is our connection between us and our belief in each other. And if anything’s going to bring us gold, it’s going to be that.”
Added Johannes: “We have nothing to lose. We are going to play hard.”
The U.S. has been powered through these Olympics largely by Stewart and a pair of Las Vegas Aces players in A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young. Wilson leads the U.S. in scoring (18.2) and rebounding (9.6) per game, while Stewart — who scored a team-high 16 points in the Americans’ semifinal win over Australia — averages 18 points per game.
After not starting in the Americans’ three group stage victories, Young replaced veteran guard Diana Taurasi, 42, in the starting lineup for the knockout round. It was the first time Taurasi hadn’t been in the starting lineup for an Olympic game since 2004.
Should the U.S. win on Sunday, this gold medal will be the sixth for Taurasi, making her the most decorated basketball player in the history of the Olympics. She is currently tied with her former UConn teammate — the retired Sue Bird — with five gold medals.
While Taurasi has an impeccable resume and overwhelming credentials to be part of this team, Young has proved to be the right player for this moment. After collecting just six assists in Team USA’s first four Olympic games, she had five against Australia in addition to 14 points.
“This is a great stage for Jackie,” Wilson said. “I think we are seeing Jackie form into herself. She is establishing herself into our league and also in the world. I am very happy to be along with her and watch her grow. I like how she is just spreading her wings.”
A win for the U.S. would make its women’s basketball team the first — men or women, from any country — to win eight straight gold medals. The American men won seven straight from 1936 to 1968.
–Field Level Media
