By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Paris and the Bercy Arena will be buzzing in the final two days of the 2024 Olympic Games, as both French basketball teams have reached the final.
After Vincent Collet’s French side advanced to the gold-medal game along with Steve Kerr’s Team USA, another spectacle is guaranteed with France joining Team USA in the women’s basketball tournament final as well.
This will be the first time in history that men’s and women’s finals will see the same two countries face each other.
Team USA defeated Australia 85-64 to enter their eighth consecutive Olympic final, notching their 60th straight win at the Games.
Breanna Stewart led the U.S. team with 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists, followed by Jackie Young with 14 points and five assists, while Kahleah Copper added 11 points, and A’ja Wilson had 10 with eight rebounds.
For the Opals, Isobel Borlase had 11 points, while Tess Madgen and Marianna Tolo added 10 points each.
While Team USA dominated the first semifinal, France and Belgium put on a show to join them, with the Olympic hosts eventually emerging victorious 81-75 in overtime.
Gabby Williams led the way for the French team with 18 points, Valériane Ayayi followed with 17, while Iliana Rupert had 15 points with seven rebounds, and Janelle Salaun added 10 with six boards.
As expected, Emma Meesseman stood out for the Belgium Cats with 19 points and 14 rebounds, scoring a three-pointer in the dying moments of the fourth quarter to force overtime. Kyara Linskens with 15, Elise Ramette with 13, and Julie Vanloo with 11 points followed.
Therefore, France will meet Team USA in the final of the women’s basketball Olympic tournament on Sunday, August 11th (15:30 CET), and France will also face Team USA in the men’s basketball Olympic tournament final on Saturday, August 10th (21:30 CET).
As for the bronze-medal games, Belgium will meet Australia in the women’s tournament (11/08, 11:30 CET), while Serbia and Germany will clash in the men’s tournament third-place match (10/08, 11:00 CET).