PARIS – The U.S. women’s basketball team may bring down the curtain on the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
In the final competition of these games, the USA will play against France and will be competing for the eighth gold medal in a row. Experienced star athlete Diana Taurasi is aiming for the sixth gold medal of her career.
The Americans have largely been comfortable in these Olympic tournaments. Each of their five wins has come by double-digit points, three by 19 or more. A’ja Wilson (18.2 points per game) and Breanna Stewart (18.0) lead the way, with Wilson also leading the team in rebounds (9.6), blocks (2.4) and steals (1.6).
Follow the news, analysis and highlights from Team USA’s latest quest for gold.
Kickoff for the Olympic gold medal game between the USA and France is at 9:30 a.m. ET.
The women’s basketball gold medal game will be broadcast live on NBC and Peacock.
USA vs France basketball forecast
This game will be more challenging than people think. Yes, the U.S. women are a dominant dynasty. But the French crowd is the ultimate sixth man and will make it tough for the Americans. If France goes three-pointers, it will be close for a while. But the difference, as it often is, will be A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. No one at the Olympics had an answer to this dynamic duo. France will be last on this list.
- Monday, July 29: USA 102, Japan 76
- Thursday, August 1st: USA 87, Belgium 74
- Sunday, August 4: USA 87, Germany 68
- Wednesday, August 7: USA 88, Nigeria 74
- Friday, August 9: USA 85, Australia 64
- Sunday, August 11th: USA vs. France, 9:30 a.m. ET in the gold medal game
US basketball star A’ja Wilson is the team’s best player in points (18.2 points per game), rebounds (9.6), blocks (2.4) and steals (1.6).
Breanna Stewart is the team’s second-leading scorer with 18.0 points per game. She also averaged 5.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 blocks per game.
France is led by two outstanding WNBA veterans: forward Gabby Williams and guard Marine Johannes. Williams loves to attack the basket and finish through contact thanks to her strong body, and Johannes is like Caitlin Clark in that as soon as she crosses the mid-court line, she is ready to shoot. Iliana Rupert, whose brother plays in the NBA, is also a tough opponent.
Brittney Griner knows the face she presents to the world is often a mask. She knows what you see — the goofy grin, the 6-foot-4 kid who loves skateboarding and off-roading, the intimidating blocker on the basketball court — is only a fraction of the truth.
To outsiders, it looks like Griner has quickly moved on from her 10-month detention in Russian custody, a terrifying and isolating time that would have broken most people. When she poses for photos with fans while effortlessly throwing an 8-foot throw, it looks like everything is back to normal. But that’s not the case, and neither is she.
“It’s always with me and there are definitely moments where I think, oh wow, this could be completely different – I could see this beautiful view through bars,” Griner said Saturday at the USA’s practice. “It doesn’t go away. It also makes you appreciate everything a little more.”
The United States has dominated the Summer Games, winning a medal in every Olympic Games it has competed in (it did not participate in 1980 due to a nationwide Olympic boycott).
In total, the U.S. women’s basketball team has won eleven medals – nine gold medals, one silver medal (1976) and one bronze medal (1992). Since the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, the U.S. women have won seven gold medals in a row.
US women’s basketball Olympic squad
The U.S. women’s basketball roster consists of eight WNBA champions, three WNBA MVPs and five WNBA Rookies of the Year.
- Guards: Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Sabrina Ionescu, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Diana Taurasi, Jackie Young
- Forward: Breanna Stewart, Alyssa Thomas, A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier
- Center: Brittney Griner
A’ja Wilson says “all eyes are on us” during the Olympics and WNBA season
With the WNBA’s popularity on the rise, the U.S. women are seeking their record-tying eighth consecutive gold medal at the Paris Olympics this summer.
A’ja Wilson’s basketball dominance is fueled by joy
A’ja Wilson will continue to pile up double-doubles, push the boundaries of what a forward can do in the game and, if all goes according to plan, lead the U.S. women’s basketball team to a record eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Maybe the crowning of the latest U.S. dynasty led by an exceptional talent will get you to tune in. If not, Wilson says, that’s your loss.
“Forward, center, whatever you want to call us, we don’t get the love we deserve,” Wilson told USA TODAY Sports. “But I don’t pay any attention to it because the true fans that really understand and love the game know how important forward and center are. So yeah, I feel like we’re underrated. But I love my position.”
Still, the best player in the world knows that women’s basketball will likely attract more attention this summer than ever before, and she can’t wait to put on a show.
Olympic gold medals in US women’s basketball
The U.S. women’s basketball team has won medals at every Olympic Games they have competed in, winning a total of 11 Olympic medals, including nine gold medals, one silver medal and one bronze medal. Here is the U.S. women’s performance since 1976, when women’s basketball made its debut at the Montreal Olympics:
- 2020, Tokyo: Gold (90:75 win against Japan)
- 2016, Rio: Gold (101–72 victory over Spain)
- 2012, London: Gold (86:50 victory over France)
- 2008, Athens: Gold (92–65 win Australia)
- 2004, Athens: Gold (74–63 against Australia)
- 2000, Sydney: Gold (76–54 against Australia)
- 1996, Atlanta: Gold (111–87 victory over Brazil)
- 1992, Barcelona: Bronze (88:74 victory over Cuba in the bronze medal match)
- 1988, Seoul: Gold (77:70 victory over Yugoslavia)
- 1984, Los Angeles: Gold (85:55 victory over South Korea)
- 1980, Moscow: USA boycotts Olympics because of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
- 1976, Canada: Silver (83–67 loss to Czechoslovakia)
Diana Taurasi Olympic gold medals
Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020) are the only two American women’s basketball players to win five Olympic gold medals. Taurasi can become the first to win six gold medals in Paris.
Cheryl Reeve, head coach of the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx, will be the head coach of the U.S. women’s national team in 2024. Kara Lawson (Duke), Joni Taylor (Texas A&M) and Mike Thibault (Washington Mystics) will be Reeve’s assistant coaches. Reeve and her team previously led the U.S. women to a gold medal at the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup.
Olympic Games in Women’s Basketball
GROUP PHASE
Sunday, July 28
- Spain 90, China 89
- Serbia 58, Puerto Rico 55
Monday, July 29
- Nigeria 75, Australia 62
- Germany 83, Belgium 69
- France 75, Canada 54
- United States 102, Japan 76
Wednesday, July 31
- Spain 63, Puerto Rico 62
- Serbia 81, China 59
Thursday, August 1
- Germany 75, Japan 64
- Australia 70, Canada 65
- France 75, Nigeria 54
- United States 87, Belgium 74
Saturday, August 3
- China 80, Puerto Rico 58
- Spain 70, Serbia 62
Sunday, August 4
- Belgium 85, Japan 58
- Nigeria 79, Canada 70
- United States 87, Germany 68
- Australia 79, France 72
QUARTERFINALS
Wednesday, August 7
- Australia 85, Serbia 67
- Belgium 79, Spain 66
- France 84, Germany 71
- United States 88, Nigeria 74
SEMIFINALS
Friday, August 9
- United States 85, Australia 64
- France 81, Belgium 75 (OT)
