US Women’s Basketball Team Secures Spot in Gold Medal Showdown

The U.S. women’s basketball team is on the brink of making history at the Olympic Games.

PARIS, France — Following a dominant 85-64 win over Australia in the semi-final, the U.S. women’s basketball team has secured their place in the gold medal game. Victory in this next game will set a new Olympic record for the most consecutive gold medals in basketball.

The final opponent will be either Belgium or France, with their matchup set for 3 p.m. Eastern. The losing team from that contest will battle Australia for the bronze medal.

When is the final for women’s basketball at the Olympics?

The bronze medal game is scheduled for 5:30 a.m. Eastern on Sunday, Aug. 11. The gold medal showdown will follow at 9:30 a.m. Eastern, marking the last event of the Summer Games.

What happened in the women’s basketball semifinal?

Breanna Stewart scored 16 points, propelling the U.S. women into their eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal game. This victory extended their Olympic winning streak to a remarkable 60 games.

A win on Sunday would also cement Diana Taurasi’s place in history with a record six gold medals. In an unusual move, Taurasi didn’t enter the game until late in the third quarter with the U.S. comfortably leading.

The Americans gained a quick lead, finishing the first quarter 20-16. A 12-0 run in the second quarter solidified their dominance, leading to a 45-27 advantage at halftime.

In the second half, the Australians were unable to mount a comeback. Jackie Young contributed 14 points, Kahleah Copper 11, and A’ja Wilson 10 for the U.S. On the Australian side, Isobel Borlase led with 11 points, followed by Tess Madgen and Ezi Magbegor with 10 each.

When will the US men’s basketball team play next?

The U.S. men’s basketball team is also advancing to a gold medal match. They will face France on Saturday, Aug. 10 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern.