U.S. to meet France in women's basketball final, repeating men's gold-medal matchup

Breanna Stewart and the U.S. women's basketball team cruised to a familiar place - the Olympic gold medal game.

Stewart led a balanced offence as the Americans beat Australia 85-64 on Friday in the semifinals to extend their Olympic winning streak to 60 consecutive games dating back to the 1992 Barcelona Games.

"The streak is crazy. I mean, they just told me when I was doing TV that it was, like, before I was born that it kind of started, which is wild," Stewart said.

"It just goes to show those that have really paved the way and to create USA Basketball and what it is now. Tons of appreciation for that and knowing that when you represent this jersey and wear USA across your chest the standard is high and there really is nothing higher."

And the team didn't disappoint some notable onlookers, including Sue Bird, Dawn Staley, Kevin Durant and Vanessa Bryant and her children.

WATCH | Canada's women ousted from Olympic basketball by Nigeria: 

Canadian women's basketball team eliminated from Paris 2024 after loss to Nigeria

4 months ago

Duration 1:14

Canada falls to Nigeria 79-70 and is eliminated from the women's basketball tournament at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The Candians dropped all three of their preliminary round matchups.

After the business-like semifinal win in which the U.S. started strong and never took its foot off the gas, the Americans will face France for the title. The U.S. is trying to become the first team—in any sport - to win eight consecutive Olympic gold medals, breaking the tie with the U.S. men's program that won seven in a row from 1936-68.

The U.S. was able to take control of the game in the first half allowing coach Cheryl Reeve the opportunity to play her starters limited minutes, give players on the bench more court time, so everyone will be fresh and mentally set for the gold medal game.

A win Sunday would be a record sixth gold medal for Diana Taurasi. A game after not starting for the first time since the 2004 Olympics, the Americans' most decorated Olympic basketball player didn't enter the game until 2:08 remained in the third quarter with the U.S. up 63-40. She missed her two shots, playing just a little over 6 minutes.

The U.S. jumped out to an early lead on Australia, but only were up 20-16 after the opening quarter. The Americans put the game away in the second quarter, starting the period with a 12-0 run. The U.S. led 45-27 at the half.

Jackie Young added 14 points, Kahleah Copper 11 and A'ja WIlson 10 for the Americans.

Isobel Borlase led Australia with 11, and Tess Madgen and Ezi Magbegor each had 10.

WNBA All-Stars

There was no shortage of WNBA players on the court.

But while the American team features 12 WNBA All-Stars who have won multiple MVPs, the Australia roster is full of complimentary players in the league. The Opals, who started five current WNBA players, just didn't have enough offensive firepower to compete with the U.S. juggernaut.

In the end, the U.S. once again denied the Australians a chance at a gold medal in what's been a one-sided affair between the teams. The Opals have never beaten the U.S. in Olympic competition, losing in the gold medal game in 2000, '04 and '08.

"We had to play a perfect game today. I always say you got to believe that you can" beat the U.S., Australia coach Sandy Brondello said. "But nine times out of 10, there's one game where you maybe can get them on a bad day. And it wasn't our best day here."

The Australians also lost to the U.S. in the semifinals of the 1996 and 2012 Olympics.

Jackson played 5 minutes after sitting out the last two games and didn't score. The 43-year-old Jackson hasn't contributed much in this Olympics, but the fact she's still playing is a near miracle itself after she retired due to injuries in 2016.

Jackson made a return for the Opals at the 2022 World Cup, helping the team earn bronze there. Now she'll hope that the team can get one more win Sunday to medal - something the Australians have done in each of the four other Olympics she's competed in.

The U.S. will be looking for another gold.

"I'm so proud of us," Reeve said. "You know, the evolution that we've made as a team. And I'm excited that we've got ... to the last stand, if you will, in this campaign. [Now] see if we can get the gold."

Host France makes final

Gabby Williams scored nine of her 18 points in overtime as France advanced to the gold medal game of the Paris Olympics in women's basketball, beating neighbour Belgium 82-75 Friday night.

Not only will the host nation be playing in the final event of these Olympics on Sunday, France is back in the gold medal game for the first time since taking silver of the 2012 London Games. The French lost that game to the U.S., which beat Australia 85-64 in the other semifinal Friday. 

Now France will have home-court advantage against the Americans who are trying to become the first team in Olympic history to win eight straight gold medals, male or female. France is assured of grabbing a medal that's a better colour than the bronze won three years ago in the Tokyo Games.

It will be an all U.S.-France showdown for gold in basketball with the men playing Saturday and the women in the final event of these Olympics on Sunday.

With the home crowd on their feet waving French flags and dancing, the players celebrated on the court jumping and hugging each other after the final buzzer of a thrilling game.

The dejected Belgian Cats sat on their bench for a couple minutes stunned after having been up 46-31 in the third quarter.

Belgium then caught a break. After leaving Valeriane Ayayi wide-open for 3 from the left corner the France forward clanked off the left rim. France couldn't grab the rebound for a another shot, sending the game into overtime.
Williams scored the first five points of overtime, yet Belgium kept battling.

Meesseman scored inside to pull the Cats within 76-75 with 55.8 seconds left. Williams answered with a driving layup, then Vanloo's 3 was well short. Williams added two of the final three free throws for France to seal the win and start the celebration.

Belgium will play Australia for bronze Sunday, a respectable performance for a country in just its second Olympics in this sport.