For this final match of the 2024 Olympic Games, the Blues set up an ultra-defensive match against Team USA. Gabby Williams starts strong while LeBron James is in the front row, to observe the ultra-aggressive French.
And it works because A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart are extremely unsettled by this defensive intensity.
The problem is that Jean-Aimé Toupane's team is exposed to the referees' whistles, with Romane Bernies having to come off quickly for three fouls. The other problem is that it's not enough to defend very hard, you also have to score baskets. And with a clumsy Marine Johannès, France has a hard time doing that.
The Blues are engaged in a big fight
Brittney Griner's height hurt the Blues at the end of the first quarter (9-15) but the Americans were not comfortable in this ultra-defensive match, and they lost an incalculable number of balls!
The French women took advantage of this to equalise through Valériane Ayayi while Marine Fauthoux, forced to shoot from very far away, managed a prayer that set the Arena Bercy alight. Thanks to Janelle Salaün, France even took the lead (25-23).
At half-time, the two teams are tied (25-25). What a fight by Gabby Williams and company.
Valériane Ayayi and Marine Fauthoux perfectly revive the Blues, who take a five-point lead (30-25)! A new 3-pointer from the French winger forces Cheryl Reeve to call a time-out (33-25).
The United States is back
A'ja Wilson can't do it, either in attack or defense, against Marième Badiane, and France goes to +10 (35-25). Kelsey Plum revives Team USA, with a 3-pointer then by serving A'ja Wilson on a quick play. She punishes again from afar (35-33) but Leïla Lacan gives the Blues some momentum with the 2+1.
The Arena Bercy is much hotter than the day before, but A'ja Wilson is starting to catch the French shots and make her place in attack. And on a defensive communication error, Napheesa Collier puts the United States back in the lead (40-41). The French intensity has dropped a notch, while the American intensity has done the opposite.
But while Marine Johannès scores a rare basket, there is only a two-point gap (43-45) at the start of the last quarter. Les Bleues have ten minutes to pull off the Olympic upset of the century!
Marième Badiane, who had an absolutely incredible match, equalized (45-45), imitated by Valériane Ayayi (49-49). Marième Badiane even brought the Blues back into the lead (51-49) but picked up her fourth foul in the process.
Gabby Williams nearly achieves a miracle
A lucky basket by A'ja Wilson puts Team USA up 3 (55-58) while the French attempts don't go in. And Marine Johannès loses a precious ball at the baseline. But Gabby Williams catches the shot from mid-range and Team USA is only one point ahead (59-60) with 1 minute 32 left in the fourth quarter…
Kahleah Copper gives Team USA some breathing room with a layup (59-62) while Gabby Williams airballs from afar.
The incredible Marième Badiane provokes a walk from A'ja Wilson but Marine Fauthoux is blocked and has to foul A'ja Wilson, who makes one shot out of two. The United States are at +4 (63-59) with 17 seconds left.
Kelsey Plum delivers on the free throws but Gabby Williams makes a 3-pointer to allow the Blues to still believe in it (65-64). And after Kahleah Copper's free throws, Gabby Williams makes another incredible shot. If it's a 3-pointer, we're going into overtime. Except that the Franco-American point guard has her foot on the line. It's lost (67-66).
France held on to Team USA like never before, but had to settle for the silver medal. Like the Blues…
