Like the men, the Olympic gold medal game in the women’s basketball tournament will see the USA face hosts France on Sunday.
It will be the first time that the men’s and women’s gold medal game in the basketball tournament will be decided between the same two nations.
France edged out Belgium 81-74 in a thrilling overtime battle in Paris.
Gabby Williams led France with 18 points as they reached a gold medal game in front of their home crowd, friends, and family.
But it nearly didn’t go that way. Trailing by as many as 15 points, the hosts saw their dream almost sink against their nearest rivals.
Behind 46-33 and looking vulnerable, France dusted themselves off and got down to business, going on a 15-5 run to swing the momentum back in their favor.
Enjoying a lead going into the final seconds, France were rocked when Emma Meesseman splashed a triple to take the game to an extra period.
But up stepped Williams, who hit nine of her 18 in that overtime mark to seal the win.
“I would prefer a game like that than one won by 30 points any day,” Williams said.
“These are the moments that you dream of when you are a kid and the ones that you work hard for. I absolutely loved it. It’s a game of runs, it’s the Olympics, and wild stuff happens. You just have to keep a cool head.”
The formidable USA will stand in their way in a rematch of the London 2012 women’s basketball gold medal game. The USA is hunting its eighth straight gold medal after beating Australia 85-64.
The Opals competed well in the first quarter, despite a slow start. However, the USA opened up the second with a 12-0 spurt, breaking the game wide open and they didn’t look back as they collected their 60th straight Olympic win.
Breanna Stewart paced the winners with 16 points, supported by Jackie Young’s 14
The gold and bronze medal game takes place on Sunday.
Photo: FIBA
