2024 Olympic basketball: What to expect in U.S.-France women’s final

The U.S. ladies’s basketball crew continues to do what it does finest: win. The Individuals are actually 40 minutes away from making historical past.

Crew USA cruised to an 85-64 win Friday over Australia within the first semifinals of the Paris Video games, marking this system’s sixtieth consecutive Olympic victory.

The Individuals will now play for an eighth consecutive, and tenth general, Olympic gold medal Sunday towards France. The French crew got here via after a detailed extra time battle towards Belgium within the second semifinal. (With the USA males additionally taking up the hosts within the closing Saturday, it will mark the primary Olympics the place the identical international locations are taking part in within the gold medal sport for each males’s and girls’s basketball.)

The Opals, who’ve six lively WNBA gamers on their roster and are led by New York Liberty coach Sandy Brondello, will play Belgium, led by Emma Meesseman and Julie Vanloo, Sunday within the bronze medal sport.

As we head towards the ultimate occasion of the Paris Video games, ESPN’s Alexa Philippou and Michael Voepel break down what went proper for Crew USA within the semifinal win and what to anticipate from the upcoming gold medal showdown.

Crew USA had simply its finest efficiency but within the semifinal towards Australia

Even because it defeated opponents by double figures and largely appeared like the perfect crew within the area, gradual begins and in-game inconsistency had been points for Crew USA. Till this semifinal.

From the leap, the U.S. ladies had been aggressive defensively — which fueled their transition sport and helped construct an early lead. By the tip of the primary quarter, they already had 14 fast-break factors and had pressured six Opals turnovers. Following a 25-11 second quarter, the U.S. was limiting Australia to only 33% from the sector (in comparison with its personal 53%) and the Opals had been down 45-27.

The dominance continued via the third and early fourth quarters, the place Crew USA constructed a 30-point lead earlier than Australia’s reserves made issues a bit nearer in rubbish time. On the closing buzzer, Crew USA’s taking pictures clip sat at 50% and the Opals’ at 36%. Australia’s 64 factors had been the fewest allowed by the U.S. ladies this Olympics, and the 21-point win was the Individuals’ second largest — they beat Japan by 26 within the opener. Additionally of notice: It was Crew USA’s second straight and third general win with out trailing this Olympics.

If Crew USA brings this defensive depth into the ultimate, and may use it to play within the open flooring, it should not have any downside taking house gold. — Alexa Philippou

The Individuals shared the ball exceptionally nicely

What higher approach to make the most of this a lot expertise on a crew than having everyone get in on the act? From a passing standpoint, that is precisely what occurred: 11 of the 12 gamers on Crew USA had a minimum of one help. (Guard Diana Taurasi is the one one who did not.)

“It is like she’s received SIX ARMS proper now.” – Noah Eagle

A’ja Wilson along with her FOURTH block of the primary half! 🇺🇸😤

📺 NBC and Peacock | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/ZTRWfvGvcf

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 9, 2024

Three of the beginning 5 had 5 assists every: level guard Chelsea Gray, guard Jackie Young and ahead Breanna Stewart. In all, the Individuals had 31 assists, and everybody besides Taurasi scored. There is not a protection on this planet that may problem this crew when it strikes the ball that nicely. The U.S. crew is in a position to wear down and frustrate even the perfect defenders. — Michael Voepel

Sunday’s gold medal sport can be a battle of the defenses

France and the U.S. are two groups that pleasure themselves on protection. The previous paces all international locations with 66.6 factors allowed and 12.0 steals per sport this Olympics, whereas the latter is fourth with 71.2 factors allowed per sport and eighth with 8.2 steals per sport. Which unit makes its opponent extra uncomfortable? Crew USA has a lot scoring depth and has improved its chemistry over the previous few weeks so it feels doubtless it’s going to be capable to do sufficient injury offensively to win, particularly with Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young showing unstoppable via 5 video games. However staying composed, particularly when pressured to run half-court offense, will stay paramount. — Philippou

France’s grit will make it a tricky opponent within the closing

Capturing 29.9% from the sector in an Olympic semifinal would appear like a recipe for catastrophe. Even with high scorers Gabby Williams (9 factors in regulation) and Marine Johannes (6 factors) struggling, France overcame its offensive woes — in addition to a 15-point deficit and a 22-0 run from the Cats on Friday. Les Bleues relied on their protection, forcing 22 turnovers (14 steals) and scoring 30 factors off them. It helped, too, that they did nicely on the offensive glass (19 offensive boards) and registered 25 extra shot makes an attempt than Belgium.

France was down by FIFTEEN to Belgium at one level on this ladies’s basketball semifinal, and so they’ve come again to take the lead in entrance of their house crowd! #ParisOlympics

📺. USA and Peacock pic.twitter.com/jdIPBBjGAn

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 9, 2024

France admittedly ought to have closed issues out in regulation. However Williams stepped up in extra time to attain 9 of her crew’s 15 factors and the hosts eked out the win in entrance of a boisterous house crowd to cap an all-time thriller of a semifinal. Valeriane Ayayi and Iliana Rupert’s mixed 32 factors additionally got here up clutch. — Philippou

The Individuals simply want to remain within the second for the gold

We now have seen this present so many instances now, in each the Olympics and the FIBA World Cup. The U.S. ladies by no means have a whole lot of preparation collectively as a crew, and but their chemistry all the time comes collectively. Does it assist to have 4 gamers from one WNBA crew on this Olympic squad? After all: Wilson, Younger, Grey and Kelsey Plum of the two-time defending champion Aces have introduced that vibe.

The gamers’ dedication to USA Basketball turns WNBA rivals into tight-knit teammates for a few weeks proper in the course of their league season. Towards France on Sunday, america would be the “highway” crew — but there’s by no means any fear in regards to the headspace the Individuals are in. It is all the time constructive and assured. They’re the perfect crew within the Olympic event, by so much. They only should play like that for one more 40 minutes.

Taurasi, going for her sixth Olympic gold, talked earlier within the event in regards to the potential of getting to face the house nation and the way the Individuals needed to be ready for that. It does not appear doubtless that may rattle them, however the crowd will attempt to be an element for the French.

France received to the foul line so much and capitalized on that — going 28-of-32 from the stripe — towards Belgium. The professional-French crowd for the ultimate might need some affect on the officiating, so the Individuals should be prepared for that, too. — Voepel