Saturday is the last day of the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in Paris. It’s been an incredible time. This year’s Olympics did not disappoint. However, the last day of the 2024 Olympics will see the final of the women’s basketball tournament. The final game, of course, is the gold medal match on Saturday morning. Just like the men, the women’s gold medal match will be between hosts France and the United States. It’s the first time that the same two countries will face each other in the men’s and women’s finals.
Preview of the gold medal game in women’s basketball at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris
Women’s gold medal game
France vs. USA
France has played well to get to this point. The team, ranked 7th in the FIBA World Rankings, has played well to get to this point. Its four wins have combined to average a margin of 15.25 points per game. The Blues have won two Olympic medals in women’s basketball, silver at the 2012 London Games and bronze a few years ago in Tokyo. This time, they’re looking to be the team to finally dethrone the Americans. Aside from the United States, only the Soviet Union (and some of its united remnants from 1992) has won gold in women’s basketball at the Olympics.
As I said, the French have done well, winning four of their five games, losing only to Australia. They are the second-best scorers with 77.4 points per game. They have played great defense, averaging just under 5 blocks per game, and lead all teams (tied with Nigeria) in steals per game with 12. Gabby Williams (who was selected 4th overall in the 2018 WNBA Draft after graduating from UConn) averages the 11th-most points per game with 14.8. She also averages 5.4 assists per game (7th best) and 2.8 steals per game (3rd best). Marine Johannès of the New York Liberty has also played well, averaging over 12 points per game.
The United States women’s basketball team is seeking its 8th consecutive gold medal. It would also be its 10th gold medal in the last 11 Olympic Games. The team hasn’t lost an Olympics since the 1992 Barcelona Games, and hasn’t lost a major international competition since 2006. It has won 58 consecutive Olympic Games. Those are all insane numbers. So far, the team has continued that dominance in this tournament, leading all teams in nearly every statistical category. In some (like points per game), the gaps are very wide. Belgium made them play for much of their meeting, and Australia and Nigeria kept up a bit in the first half. But otherwise, they’ve been pretty quiet.
Breanna Stewart has played fantastic basketball as always. She is the fifth-best player with 18 points per game. Stewie also averages 5.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 blocks (third highest) per game and has barely dropped the ball. Although Stewie has been great, A’ja Wilson has been even better. She has averaged 18.2 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, which put her fourth and second respectively among all players. She also averages 2.4 blocks per game, which puts her in second place.
