USA vs. France basketball final score, results: U.S. women capture eighth straight Olympic gold in instant classic

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Gilbert McGregor
• 11 min read
A'ja Wilson and Brittney Griner
(NBAE via Getty Images)

Make it eight consecutive Olympic gold medals for the U.S. women's national basketball team.

In an instant classic, Team USA held off France for a 67-66 win decided in the final moments. A'ja Wilson was excellent and Kahleah Copper was clutch as the Americans outlasted the host team, which led by as many as 10 points in the second half.

The United States now strengthens its claim as one of the best programs in all of international sports. Sunday was the team's 61st consecutive Olympic win, a streak that they'll look to extend in four years.

If you missed any of the action, The Sporting News tracked live score updates and highlights from the women's gold medal game at the 2024 Olympics.

MORE: Inside U.S. women's basketball's overall record, more stats from incredible win streak

USA vs. France women's basketball score

  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
USA 15 10 20 22 67
France 9 16 18 23 66

USA vs. France live updates, results, highlights from 2024 Olympic women's basketball game

(All times Eastern.)

Final: USA 67, France 66

11:19 a.m.: France's Marine Johannes cuts into the deficit with two free throws but Team USA's Kelsey Plum makes it a four-point advantage with two free throws of her own.

Seconds later, Gabby Williams drains a 3 to cut the deficit to one before Kahleah Copper sinks two free throws to make it a three-point game.

Williams beats the buzzer with a potential game-tying bucket but her toe was on the line. Team USA wins Olympic gold for an eighth straight time!

11:16 a.m.: After a USA stop, A'ja Wilson splits a pair of free throws to put the USA up by four with 17.4 seconds left.

France's 3-pointer has escaped them in the fourth but they'll need a quick bucket to extend the game.

USA 63, France 59

11:13 a.m.: Kahleah Copper cannot be contained.

She's got eight points in the fourth after a driving layup to give Team USA a three-point lead. On the ensuing possession, Gabby Williams comes up short on a 3-point attempt and the ball is back in Team USA's possession.

Timeout on the floor. 54.7 seconds remain.

USA 62, France 59

11:11 a.m.: Gabby Williams sinks a tough midrange jumper over Breanna Stewart to cut the deficit to one point with 1:32 to play.

Timeout USA.

USA 60, France 59

11:09 a.m.: Two big free throws from Kelsey Plum make it a three-point lead for the Americans.

Under two minutes remain in regulation.

USA 60, France 57

11:08 a.m.: With 2:30 remaining, it's a one-point USA lead. Jackie Young has fouled out and must watch the rest from the sideline.

USA 58, France 57

11:03 a.m.: Have a quarter, Kahleah Copper!

Copper's stepping up when it matters most and has scored six of her eight points in the fourth. Things are tied up again with 3:45 remaining in regulation.

Timeout on the floor.

USA 55, France 55

10:59 a.m.: Midway through the fourth, things are tied again after two free throws from A'ja Wilson.

This one could come down to the wire.

USA 51, France 51

10:57 a.m.: After Team USA is whistled for another foul, Valériane Ayayi steps up to hit two free throws to tie the game.

France will be in the bonus for the last six minutes of action.

USA 49, France 49

10:52 am.: Important foul trouble to monitor: Jackie Young has picked up her fourth foul with a lot of time left.

After a French bucket, Kahleah Copper sinks a pair of free throws to give Team USA a two-point lead with eight minutes to play in regulation.

USA 47, France 45

End of third quarter: USA 45, France 43

10:47 a.m.: We've got a good one on our hands, folks.

After three quarters, Team USA leads by two points. 10 minutes separate us from an eighth straight Olympic gold for America or a stunning win for France.

A'ja Wilson scored 10 points in the third quarter and is up to 14 points and 12 rebounds in the game. Sabrina Ionescu provided a spark with two rebounds and two assists in four minutes off the bench.

Gabby Williams did not score in the third but Valériane Ayayi and Marine Johannes had big moments for France, which led by as many as 10 points in the quarter.

10:43 a.m.: Team USA is back in the lead as Sabrina Ionescu has provided a spark.

Ionescu assisted a Napheesa Collier cutting layup to give the USA a one-point lead late in the third.

After a stop, Ionescu again sets up Collier to make it a three-point lead with over a minute to play in the frame.

USA 43, France 40

10:39 a.m.: With under four minutes left in the third, France is maintaining a five-point advantage.

Sabrina Ionescu has checked in for her first minutes for Team USA and will look to provide a spark to close the quarter.

France 40, USA 35

10:34 a.m.: And Team USA has responded.

After falling behind by 10 points, a quick 5-0 run has sliced the deficit in half and France calls for timeout with 5:59 remaining in the third. It's USA basketball with an opportunity to cut more into the deficit after the break.

France 35, USA 30

10:31 a.m.: It's now a double-digit lead for France, which is up by 10 points with 7:05 left in the third.

Team USA has yet to score in the second half.

France 35, USA 25

10:28 a.m.: France is out to a nice start to the second half.

After a bucket from Valériane Ayayi, an A'ja Wilson missed layup leads to a second-chance 3-pointer from Marine Fauthaux. After another stop, Ayayi drills a triple to make it an 8-0 start to the second half.

Timeout USA with 7:59 remaining in the third.

France 33, USA 25

Halftime: USA 25, France 25

10:11 a.m.: Well, this is new.

Things are all tied up at the half after Team USA and France battled for the first 20 minutes of action. The Americans needed a last-second tip-in from Napheesa Collier to even the score before the break.

The story of the game has been defense and effort, as the teams shot a combined 19-of-68 from the field.

Team USA, which is 8-of-28 from the field has committed 13 turnovers and allowed France to pull down 10 offensive rebounds in the half. France has scored 12 points off USA turnovers.

France's Gabby Williams leads all scorers with eight points. A'ja Wilson leads the way for Team USA with six points but is shooting just 2-of-9 from the field.

10:06 a.m.: And we have a tied game late in the first half after France beats the shot clock with a Marine Fauthoux heave from near halfcourt.

Again, the crowd is loving it. Timeout USA with 2:45 left until halftime.

USA 23, France 23

10 a.m.: Timeout France with 4:44 remaining in the half.

Team USA leads by two points but has already committed 12 turnovers in just over 15 minutes of action. The longer France hangs around, the more rowdy the home crowd becomes.

USA 20, France 18

9:56 a.m.: A 3 from Gabby Williams makes it a 7-0 run for France, which trails by a point with 6:56 left in the second quarter.

Williams is up to eight points in the game and France is hanging around with its defensive effort.

USA 17, France 16

End of first quarter: USA 15, France 9

9:50 a.m.: It was an ugly first quarter but Team USA has built a six-point lead thanks to some late buckets from Brittney Griner.

Griner and Breanna Stewart have each scored four points to lead the Americans' effort while France is led by five points from Gabby Williams.

France has successfully muddied the game up early and the low-scoring output reflects that. The teams shot a combined 8-of-33 in the first quarter.

9:48 a.m.: Team USA is going to the bench unit, which looks to provide a spark late in the first.

After Alyssa Thomas splits a pair of free throws, the USA leads by four with 90 seconds left in the quarter.

USA 11, France 7

9:44 a.m.: France is muddying the game up and dominating the offensive glass early.

Team USA leads by two points but France already has six offensive boards with 3:43 remaining in the first quarter.

USA 7, France 5

9:36 a.m.: It's been a bit of a slow start on both sides but France's first points come from a Gabby Williams 3.

With 6:41 remaining in the first, the teams have combined to make three field goals.

USA 4, France 3

9:32 a.m.: The French crowd is rocking but Team USA gets on the board first courtesy of Breanna Stewart.

The gold medal game is underway.

Pregame

9:25 a.m.: Starting for France: Marine Fauthoux, Gabby Williams, Janelle Salaün, Valériane Ayayi and Marième Badiane.

9:15 a.m.: It's the same starting unit for Team USA, who rolls with Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson.

7:30 a.m.: One final game day.

The U.S. women's national team is off to Bercy Arena for a gold-medal showdown with France. All eyes will be on Team USA as the group looks to make it eight in a row.

How to watch USA vs. France at 2024 Paris Olympics

  • Date: Sunday, Aug. 11
  • Time: 9:30 a.m. ET
  • TV channel (United States): NBC
  • Livestream (United States): Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, Fubo

The gold medal matchup between the United States and France will be played on Sunday, Aug. 11 at 9:30 a.m. ET. The game will air on NBC in the United States.

For those streaming the game, Peacock and NBCOlympics.com will broadcast the match. Fubo is also available and has a free trial. 

    Women's Olympic basketball schedule 2024

    Wednesday, Aug. 7

    Round Result
    Quarterfinal Australia 85, Serbia 67
    Quarterfinal Belgium 79, Spain 66
    Quarterfinal France 84, Germany 71
    Quarterfinal USA 88, Nigeria 74

    Friday, Aug. 9

    Round Result
    Semifinal USA 85, Australia 64
    Semifinal France 81, Belgium 75

    Sunday, Aug. 11

    Round Matchup Time (ET)
    Bronze medal game Australia 85, Belgium 81 5:45 a.m.
    Gold medal game USA vs. France 9:30 a.m.
    Author(s)
    Author Photo
    Gilbert McGregor
    Gilbert McGregor is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News.
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