Just one more day of basketball remains at the Paris Olympics, but the good news is it should be a doozy. Medals are on the line in the women’s tournament, highlighted by a second straight gold medal showdown between the U.S. and France — plus a bronze medal matchup that should provide plenty of fireworks of its own. Here’s everything to look forward to at Bercy Arena on Sunday.
What to watch for in Olympic basketball: Aug. 11
USA-France, Round 2
The U.S. took the men’s matchup between these two countries on Saturday, and now the American women will look to finish off the gold-medal double. Of course, there’s plenty more history than that on the line for this U.S. team: an eighth straight gold medal and a 61st straight Olympic win, for starters, as well as a sixth gold for legend Diana Taurasi in her final Games. Standing in the way of all that? France, which has gotten here on the back of some stifling defense and the stat-stuffing brilliance of former WNBA star Gabby Williams. Les Bleus are a unique team that poses unique problems, but no one has been able to put a scare into this U.S. team for even a half. It’s going to take a Herculean effort for that to change on Sunday, but a raucous capacity crowd in Paris is going to do its best. Tipoff is set for 9:30 a.m. ET.
SEE MORE: Four questions ahead of U.S. women’s basketball team’s gold medal showdown with France
Belgium, Australia battle for bronze
USA-France draws all the headlines, but don’t sleep on this matchup either. Belgium came within a whisper of beating France in the semifinal, and it boasts one of the very best players in the world in Emma Meesseman. Australia, meanwhile, had built a ton of momentum before running into the U.S. buzzsaw and boasts a slew of WNBA players — including one of the tournament’s premier inside-outside combinations in point guard Sami Whitcomb and big Alanna Smith. These are two ruthlessly efficient half-court offenses with very deep and talented rosters; it should be 40 minutes of awfully good basketball to whet our palates. Tipoff is set for 5:30 a.m. ET.
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