Arizona Athletes to Shine Bright in Paris on August 10

The final weekend of the Olympics has arrived and here are the Arizona athletes you’ll want to watch on Saturday.

PARIS, France — The final weekend of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, has arrived. The penultimate day of competition will feature numerous Arizona athletes.

From wrestling to basketball to track, there’s plenty of action. Here’s a rundown of Arizona Olympians competing on Saturday, Aug. 10.

Basketball

Saturday marks the climax of the men’s basketball tournament, with all three medals being awarded.

Men’s gold medal game, USA vs. France, 12:30 p.m.

• USA: Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
• USA: Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

Durant will start for Team USA in the final. Booker, a consistent starter, has played every game. Team USA, undefeated in the group stage, overcame a tough semifinal against Serbia. Booker averages 11 points, 3.4 assists and 2 rebounds. Durant contributes 13.6 points, 1 steal, 2 assists, and 3 rebounds. Team USA aims for its 17th gold medal in men’s basketball.

Soccer

The final day of soccer competition also wraps up on Saturday.

Women’s gold medal match, USA vs. Brazil, 8 a.m.

• USA: Sydney Smith

Smith, engaged to Arizona Cardinals’ Michael Wilson, aims to help Team USA secure their fifth Olympic gold medal. The U.S. has been impressive, remaining undefeated so far. Smith has notched 3 goals and 2 assists.

Track and Field

Track and field events will conclude at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. The women’s marathon starts at 11 p.m. Arizona time on Saturday.

Men’s 800-meter final, 10:15 a.m.

• USA: Bryce Hoppel, trains in Flagstaff

Hoppel, ranked No. 4 globally, will run in lane 4. He posted the second-fastest time in the semifinals.

Men’s 5,000-meter final, 10:50 a.m.

• USA: Grant Fisher

Fisher, coached by Hamilton High’s Mike Scannell, had the fourth-fastest semifinal time.

Women’s 1,500-meter final, 11:15 a.m.

• USA: Nikki Hiltz, lives in Flagstaff

Hiltz reached the final with the third-fastest semifinal time.

Golf

Saturday also marks the end of the golf competition.

Women’s final round

• Spain: Carlota Ciganda, ASU
• Spain: Azahara Munoz, ASU
• Sweden: Linn Grant, ASU
• Italy: Alessandra Fanali, ASU
• Germany: Alexandra Forsterling, ASU
• Canada: Alena Sharp, lives in Phoenix

The current leaders are Switzerland’s Morgane Metraux, New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, and the USA’s Rose Zhang.

Wrestling

Women’s Freestyle 76kg 1/8 Final

• Kennedy Alexis Blades, ASU/Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club

Blades faces Romania’s Catalina Axente in her Olympic debut. If she advances, quarterfinals follow in the same session. Semifinals and medal matches continue on Sunday.

Water Polo

The women’s water polo tournament concludes on Saturday.

Women’s 7th place match, Greece vs. Canada, Midnight

• Canada: Blaire McDowell, ASU

Women’s bronze medal match, Netherlands vs. USA, 1:35 a.m.

• Netherlands: Bente Rogge, ASU
• Netherlands: Lieke Rogge, ASU

Bente and Lieke Rogge have contributed significantly to the Dutch team’s performance. Bente averages 19 minutes and 46 seconds per game with two goals. Lieke has played 16 minutes and 37 seconds per game, scoring four goals.

The city of Phoenix is home to major professional sports teams: NFL Arizona Cardinals, NBA Phoenix Suns, WNBA Phoenix Mercury, and MLB Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Cardinals play at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. The Suns and the Mercury play at the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix. The Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.

Phoenix is also home to the USL’s Phoenix Rising FC.

The Valley hosts numerous major sporting events annually, including the Fiesta Bowl, WM Phoenix Open, NASCAR events, and Cactus League Spring Training for MLB teams.