Sure, Staff USA knew successful one other gold wouldn’t be simple. However, an eighth-straight gold was harder than anticipated, as France challenged the US for a full 40 minutes. Solely when the ultimate buzzer sounded on the 67-66 win was the People’ golden quest full.
France established the phrases of engagement within the opening quarter, with the hosts efficiently forcing Staff USA to play scrum-style basketball. Deflections, strips, blocks and boards, slightly than factors scored, outlined the opening body. France’s incapacity to defend with out fouling, gifting the People 10 free throw makes an attempt, helped the US declare a 15-9 benefit after the primary.
The second quarter noticed a lot of the identical. The People’ seek for a giant, momentum-swinging play that might sap the French’s spirit as an alternative resulted in too many turnovers and no offensive rhythm. Within the first half, Staff USA coughed up the ball 13 occasions. France remained unfazed, enjoying with relentless power at the same time as point-blank scoring alternatives repeatedly rolled off the rim. With simply over 4 minutes to go earlier than the half, their persistence paid off as the house crew tied it up at 20 all on a Valeriane Ayayi jumper. After a free throw from Breanna Stewart and exquisite paint rating from A’ja Wilson gave Staff USA a three-point edge, Marine Fauthoux drained a desperation 3-point heave because the shot clock sounded, night the rating and igniting the French trustworthy.
A jumper from Janelle Salaün then boosted Les Bleues to the lead roughly one minute earlier than halftime, with solely a last-moment tip-in by Napheesa Collier saving the People from trailing on the break. As an alternative, it was knotted at 25-25. Gabby Williams led the French with eight first-half factors, together with three boards and three steals. Wilson had a team-high six factors and 9 boards for the People. Collier additionally had 9 rebounds, whereas Stewart added 5 factors, a pair of steals and a block.
Halftime didn’t assist the People. As France’s size continued to inhibit Staff USA’s capability to complete inside, the French started the second half on 10-0 run, which included a timeout-forcing triple from Ayayi. A nook 3-pointer by Kelsey Plum, created off a drive by Kahleah Copper, started to show the tide within the People’ favor. But, a few buckets by Leïla Lacan, the No. 10 general decide within the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Solar, stored the US from reeling off an uninterrupted string of scores.
Staff USA additionally took their protection to a different stage, powered by Wilson, the back-to-back WNBA Defensive Participant of the 12 months. With beneath two and half minutes to go within the third, Sabrina Ionescu discovered Wilson on a wide-open slip to the basket, giving the People, who trailed by 10 earlier within the interval, a one-point benefit, 41-40. However simply when Staff USA appeared poised to start to drag away, Marine Johannès conjured a few of her signature shotmaking magic, swishing a 3-pointer over a contest from Wilson. A pair of free throws from Wilson then gave the People a little bit of respiratory room getting into the fourth, 45-43.
After a slightly high-scoring third quarter, the sport once more floor into slog within the fourth, with factors laborious to return by within the opening minutes. The People additionally needed to cope with an unforgiving whistle, alert to any perceived violation by Staff USA. However, the fearless offensive aggression of Wilson and Copper, each of whom dared the French to attempt to gradual them as they drove to the basket, stored Staff USA within the back-and-forth battle and, ultimately, allowed them to prevail.
Nonetheless, Williams fired a pair of ultimate salvos for the French. After Plum appeared to have iced the win on the free throw line, giving Staff USA a 65-61 edge, Williams hit a triple over Wilson to chop the margin to a single level. Two extra free throws by Copper then appeared to verify the American victory, just for Williams to threaten to ship the sport into extra time with a buzzer-beating basket that was a step contained in the 3-point line, permitting Staff USA to flee 67-66.
Wilson completed with a double-double of 21 factors and 13 rebounds, along with 4 blocks. Copper scored 10 of her 12 factors within the fourth quarter; she additionally had 5 boards and two steals. Plum matched Copper with 12 factors, whereas Collier contributed seven factors and 11 rebounds. Williams’ 19 factors and 7 rebounds led France, with Ayayi and Johannès each including 9 factors.
Ezi elevates the Aussies to bronze
It had been a considerably disappointing Olympics for Ezi Magbegor. Probably the most proficient participant for the Australian aspect, she had not scored greater than 14 factors or grabbed greater than six rebounds in a single recreation throughout the Olympic competitors.
All that modified within the bronze medal match. Magbegor displayed the depth and breadth of her talents with a 30-point and 13-rebound double-double masterpiece. She additionally added three blocks and two steals to assist Australia maintain off Belgium, 85-81, and declare the bronze.
Alanna Smith served as Magbegor’s supporting star with a double-double of 13 factors and 12 rebounds. Smith powered the pivotal run by the Opals in the midst of the fourth quarter. With the sport tied at 69 all, the Aussies scored the following seven factors, with six of them from Smith. That gave Australia the 76-69 edge, sufficient of a cushion as Belgium fired their finest shot.
Emma Meesseman as soon as once more was sensible for the Belgians with 23 factors and 5 boards, whereas Julie Vanloo completed with 26 factors and 11 assists. If not for the absence of Julie Allemand, Belgium seemingly would have ended their second Olympic look with a medal; as an alternative, a six-point extra time loss to France within the semifinals was adopted by four-point defeat to Australia.
Wilson named Olympic MVP
Staff USA’s A’ja Wilson was named MVP of the ladies’s Olympic basketball event, averaging a double-double of 18.7 factors and 10.2 rebounds throughout the six American victories.
Breanna Stewart joined Wilson on the All-Star 5, together with France’s Gabby Williams, Australia’s Alanna Smith and Belgium’s Emma Meesseman. Williams additionally was named the Finest Defensive Participant of the event. Rena Wakama, head coach of Nigeria, the primary crew from Africa to advance to the quarterfinals, was honored because the Finest Coach.
