France vs Team USA Preview and Prediction for 2024 Paris Olympics Women's Basketball gold medal game | August 11
Team USA and France will meet in the final round of the 2024 Paris Olympics Women's Basketball event on Sunday with the coveted gold medal on the line. Historically, Team USA has dominated the women's basketball landscape and won the gold in 2021 after defeating the host nation Japan in the finals.
They have won seven straight Olympic gold medals and will be desperate to continue that streak on Sunday. The team also enters the game with 60 consecutive wins at the Olympics.
France is set to have a boisterous home crowd behind them as they go in search of their first-ever Olympic gold medal in the women's basketball competition. They finished third at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, defeating Serbia 91-76 in the bronze medal game. Prior to that, France earned a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
France vs Team USA 2024 Paris Olympics Basketball: Odds, Preview and Prediction
The USA versus France final will be played at the Bercy Arena on Sunday, August 11. The game is set to tip off at 9:30 a.m. EST (6:30 a.m. PST). Below are the odds for the matchup:
Moneyline: USA (-1400), France (+800)
Spread: USA (-15.5 points)
Total (Over/Under): 156.5 points
* All odds are subject to change prior to tip-off
France vs Team USA 2024 Paris Olympics Women's Basketball: Preview
Team USA remains undefeated in the tournament with commanding wins over Japan, Belgium, Germany, Nigeria and Australia. Coach Cheryl Reeve's side has secured double-digit victories in each of their opening five games, with an average margin of 18.6 points per game.
New York Liberty's forward Breanna Stewart and Las Vegas Aces' center A'ja Wilson will be two players to keep an eye on for USA. WNBA star Wilson leads the roster in scoring with 18.2 points per game with Stewart not far behind with 18 points per game. Wilson also ranks second in the competition with 9.6 rebounds per game.
France is coming off arguably their best game of the tournament against a strong Belgium side that was one of the favorites going into the tournament. The team has looked significantly better since a 79-72 group-stage defeat to Australia. Quarterfinal and semifinal wins over Germany and Belgium have led to some positivity going into the championship game.
Gabby Williams will need to be at her best if France has any chance of upsetting Team USA. The sharpshooting forward leads the roster in scoring (14.2 points per game) and assists (5.4 per game). Coming into the game, she is shooting nearly 50 percent from the field.
France vs Team USA 2024 Paris Olympics Women's Basketball: Predicted starting lineups
France
PG - Romane Bernies, SG - Valeriana Ayayi, SF - Gabby Williams, PF - Janelle Salaum, C - Mariema Badiane.
USA:
PG - Chelsea Gray, SG - Jackie Young, SF - Napheesa Collier, PF - Breanna Stewart, C - A'ja Wilson.
France vs Team USA 2024 Paris Olympics Women's Basketball: Prediction
The United States enters the game as heavy 15.5-point favorites and it is hard to imagine any result other than a dominant USA victory. The potent power forward-center combination of A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart should be too much for France's defense to deal with.
France showed glimpses of brilliance in their win versus Belgium but will need to be more consistent with their shooting. The home nation does have the crowd on their side but will need to play a near-perfect game if they hope to have any chance of winning a gold medal.
Expect the USA to win in this matchup convincingly and take home their eighth consecutive gold medal at the Olympics women's basketball event.