Live updates: Team USA is in a battle with France for gold medal

By / / Sports / 6 minutes of reading


It’s USA vs. France, Part II. After the two countries clashed in the men’s gold medal game on Saturday, the women take center stage on Sunday afternoon in Paris.

It’s been mostly smooth sailing for Team USA, which handily beat Australia on Friday in their semifinal. France, on the other hand, survived an overtime thriller against Belgium to make it to the final. Team USA is led by a formidable crew of WNBA stars, and despite their loss in the WNBA All-Star Game last month, Team USA has demonstrated why they’re top-tier. They’ll look to add to their history of dominance with an eighth straight gold medal.

France, which is led by Gabby Williams, Valériane Ayayi and Marine Johannes, has never won a gold medal, taking bronze in 2020 and silver in 2012. Can they pull off the upset on their home court? Tune in to find out.

Date: Sunday, August 11

Time: 9:30 a.m. ET | 6:30 a.m. PT

Location: Bercy Arena | Paris, France

Channel: NBCOlympics.com, Peacock, Fubo

Follow along with Yahoo Sports for all the live updates, highlights and more as Team USA takes on host country France for a gold medal.

Live33 updates

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    Kelsey Plum gets a wide-open three off a strong pass from Kahleah Copper. A France miss gives A’ja Wilson a chance for an easy fast break layup. Just like that, France’s lead is cut in half. There’s that momentum the U.S. was looking for.

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    Another bad turnover, as Kelsey Plum’s pass is intercepted. Marieme Badiane is fouled while attempting to score, sending France to the free throw line for the first time this game. France has a double-digit lead, 35-25.

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    Ayayi gets a three to make it 33-25, and Team USA is forced to take a timeout to quell the 8-0 run.

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    Marine Fathoux gets a huge three and gives France its biggest lead yet, with the score at 30-25. This is now a great start to the second half for the U.S.

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    Valeriane Ayayi gets the second half started with a big two-point shot for France. Wilson then misses her inside shot, and France has a 27-25 lead.

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    Unfortunately, it’s been another tough three-point night for the U.S., who has only attempted three beyond the arc and has missed all three of them. Additionally, the United States’ only three players that have not yet subbed in are Jewell Loyd, Sabrina Ionescu and Diana Taurasi — all good three-point shooters.

    It’s possible that the strategy is to focus on the paint, which Team USA usually does because they have the height advantage, but head coach Cheryl Reeve might choose to try something different at halftime.

    Most important is going to be regaining control over the pace, and avoiding those sloppy turnovers.

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    A game this close is not what Team USA is used to, but a lot of that comes down to the French defense. The United States looks overwhelmed by the French, racking up 13 turnovers in the first half.

    France has 11 fouls, but the rowdy French crowd is another tricky aspect: The U.S. is 9-of-14 on free throws, and look spooked by the raucous crowd. France has not yet been to the free throw line; the U.S. is at least being smart about fouls.

    So far, the U.S. has been lucky that France has been missing most of their shots so far, going 11-for-40 on field goals with 3-of-18 on three-pointers. But they’ve been letting them get a number of offensive rebounds and extra chances to get those shots off. Once those French shots start going in, the U.S. will really be in trouble.

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    Team USA 25, France 25 at halftime

    In a defense-heavy matchup, the United States has struggled with scoring and turnovers while France makes it difficult to get the ball into the net.

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    Janelle Salaun makes a big jumper for two, and France takes the 25-23 lead.

    A’ja Wilson gets a pair of tough misses in a row, but the U.S. keeps the ball. Wilson misses again, but Napheesa Collier tips it in to tie the game heading into halftime.

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    A’ja Wilson drives to the basket, but her layup spins around the basket and drops out. That’s not the first time that’s happened this game; it feels like the U.S. is missing a lot of these shots that they usually make with ease.

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    Chelsea Gray gets another U.S. turnover with a bad pass. Team USA is up to 13 turnovers this half so far; it’s been deadly.

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    A’ja Wilson gets an easy jumper, but Marine Fathoux gets a massive buzzer-beating three-pointer to tie things up at 23-all. Fathoux’s three-pointer is only France’s third successful attempt, after 17 attempts, but it doesn’t matter — we’re tied here in Paris.

    Team USA is forced to take a timeout and regroup, but the crowd is only growing more and more excited.

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    Stewart gets the steal, but her layup rolls out. It’s a tough shooting day for the U.S. overall: They’re 6-for-20 on field goals.

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    Breanna Stewart misses a three-pointer, and the U.S. is now 0-for-3 from beyond the arc.

    Valeriane Ayayi get a long jumper to tie up the game again, 20-all.

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    Alexia Chery’s basket in the paint gets France within one again.

    A’ja Wilson gets fouled again, but misses one of her two free throws yet again. She’s 2/4 on free throws, and soon has another turnover off a bad pass. Luckily for her, Gabby Williams misses the fast break.

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    Gabby Williams makes a huge three-pointer to get France with one point of the U.S., but Jackie Young follows with a long two. USA 19, France 16.

  • After playing yesterday, the USA and France men’s teams are in Bercy Arena today to cheer on their women’s counterparts.

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    France is going on a run now, get back-to-back buckets and tightening the U.S.’s lead to four points. Rebounding has been deadly for France, who continues to get around Team USA to get those offensive rebounds.

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    After a few misses on both teams, Kahleah Copper delivers for the U.S. to start the second quarter. U.S. now have a 17-9 lead.

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    Team USA 15, France 9 after one quarter

    As it turns out, there’s one person France can’t defend: Brittney Griner. As France misses back-to-back shots, Griner makes two big baskets in the paint to give the U.S. a six-point lead at the end of the first quarter.



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About The Author

Avatar of Kristin Powell
Kristin Powell is a writer with Global Affairs Press. She covers politics, health, business, and finance—from the big picture to the nitty-gritty details. She loves writing about topics that are relevant to everyday life, whether it's a new product in the marketplace or a political scandal that's making headlines. When she's not writing for Global Affairs Press, she spends her time reading, cooking and baking delicious treats for her friends and family.

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