The U.S. women’s basketball team continues to do what it does best: win. The Americans are now 40 minutes away from making history.

The US team won comfortably 85-64 over Australia in the first semi-final of the Paris Games on Friday, marking the team’s 60th consecutive Olympic victory.

The Americans will play France on Sunday for their eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal and their 10th overall. The French team edged Belgium in the second semifinal after a close battle in overtime. (Because the U.S. men also face the hosts in the final on Saturday, this will be the first Olympics in which the same countries compete in the gold medal game in men’s and women’s basketball.)

The Opals, who have six active WNBA players on their roster and are led by New York Liberty coach Sandy Brondello, will play Belgium, led by Emma Meesseman and Julie Vanloo, in the bronze medal game on Sunday.

As we approach the final event of the Paris Games, ESPN’s Alexa Philippou and Michael Voepel analyze what went right for Team USA in their semifinal victory and what to expect from the upcoming gold medal showdown.

Team USA showed by far its best performance so far in the semifinal against Australia

Despite outscoring opponents by double-digit scores and looking like the best team on the field for the most part, slow starts and inconsistency in play were a problem for Team USA. Until that semifinal.

From the start, the U.S. women were aggressive on defense – which fueled their transition game and helped them build an early lead. By the end of the first quarter, they had already forced 14 fast break points and six turnovers from the Opals. After going up 25-11 in the second quarter, the U.S. limited Australia to just 33% from the field (compared to their own 53%) and the Opals trailed 45-27.

The dominance continued into the third and early fourth quarters, where Team USA built a 30-point lead before Australia’s reserves closed in overtime. At the final whistle, Team USA’s shooting percentage was 50% and the Opals’ 36%. Australia’s 64 points were the fewest allowed by the U.S. women at these Olympics, and the 21-point victory was the Americans’ second-most – they had beaten Japan by 26 in the opening game. Also notable: It was Team USA’s second straight win and third overall without a deficit at these Olympics.

If the U.S. team can bring that defensive intensity into the finals and use it in the open court, they should have no problem taking home gold. — Alexa Philippou

The Americans shared the ball exceptionally well

What better way to utilize so much talent on a team than to get everyone involved? From a passing perspective, that’s exactly what happened: 11 of the 12 players on the U.S. team had at least one assist. (Guard Diana Taurasi is the only one who didn’t have an assist.)

“It’s like she has SIX ARMS now.” – Noah Eagle

A’ja Wilson with her FOURTH block of the first half! 🇺🇸😤

📺 NBC and Peacock | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/ZTRWfvGvcf

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) 9 August 2024

Three of the five starters had five assists each: point guard Chelsea Gray, guard Jackie Young and forward Breanna Stewart. Overall, the Americans had 31 assists and everyone except Taurasi scored. There is no defense in the world that can challenge this team when it moves the ball so well. The U.S. team is capable of tiring and frustrating even the best defenders. — Michael Voepel

The gold medal match on Sunday will be a battle of the defenders

France and the USA are two teams that pride themselves on their defense. France leads all countries at the Olympics with 66.6 points allowed and 12.0 steals per game, while France is fourth with 71.2 points allowed per game and eighth with 8.2 steals per game. Which unit makes it harder for the opponent? Team USA has so much scoring depth and has improved its chemistry in recent weeks that it can likely do enough damage on offense to win, especially since Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young have seemed unstoppable through five games. But keeping your composure, especially when forced to attack in your own half, will continue to be of utmost importance. — Philippou

France’s bite makes the team a tough opponent in the final

Shooting 29.9% from the field in an Olympic semifinal would be a recipe for disaster. Although top scorers Gabby Williams (9 points in regulation) and Marine Johannes (6 points) struggled, France overcame its offensive weakness – as well as a 15-point deficit and a 22-0 run by the Cats on Friday. Les Bleues relied on their defense, forcing 22 turnovers (14 steals) and scoring 30 points. It also helped that they performed well on offense (19 offensive rebounds) and recorded 25 more shot attempts than Belgium.

France were trailing Belgium by FIFTEEN points in the women’s basketball semi-finals at one point, but fought back in front of their home crowd and took the lead! #ParisOlympics

📺. USA and peacock pic.twitter.com/jdIPBBjGAn

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) 9 August 2024

France should have won the match in regular time, but Williams stepped up in extra time and scored nine of her team’s 15 points. The hosts won in front of a boisterous home crowd, crowning the most exciting semi-final of all time. Valeriane Ayayi and Iliana Rupert’s total of 32 points were also decisive. — Philippou

The Americans just have to stay in the moment to get the gold

We’ve seen this show so many times now, both at the Olympics and the FIBA ​​World Cup. The U.S. women never have much preparation time as a team, and yet their chemistry is always on point. Does it help to have four players from a WNBA team on this Olympic roster? Of course: Wilson, Young, Gray and Kelsey Plum of the Aces, the two-time defending champions, brought that vibe.

The players’ commitment to USA Basketball turns the WNBA rivals into close teammates for a few weeks in the middle of their league season. The United States will be the “away team” against France on Sunday – but there is no reason to worry about the Americans’ mood. They are always positive and confident. They are by far the best team in the Olympic tournament. They just need to play like that for another 40 minutes.

Taurasi, who is aiming for her sixth Olympic gold, spoke earlier in the tournament about the possibility of having to play against the home country and how the Americans will need to be prepared for that. It seems unlikely that they will be rattled by it, but the crowd will try to be a factor for the French.

France got to the free throw line often and took advantage of that against Belgium, making 28 of 32 free throws. The pro-French crowd at the final could have some influence on the referee’s decision, so the Americans will have to be prepared for that as well. — Voepel