US survive France charge to clinch eighth consecutive basketball gold medal – as it happened

Bryan Armen Graham has the report from Bercy Arena:

And now, the saddest part of any four-year cycle – the longest wait until the next Summer Olympic event.

Thanks for following this game and everything else in these Olympics. See you in Los Angeles.

The Guardian’s medal count has just had its final update (pending whatever happens with Jordan Chiles’ bronze). It will show the USA in first place. Barely. This is the USA’s 40th gold medal in France, tied with China. But the USA had 44 silver medals to China’s 27.

“I’m so proud of the resilience my team showed,” says A’ja Wilson.

They were down 10 in the third quarter. After they turned the tide, France raised their game, and the fourth quarter was an instant classic.

It’s the US-born Williams who inspired France throughout this game. She had 19 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals.

A’ja Wilson is the player who saved the USA here, with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Kahleah Copper was everywhere in the second half and ended up with 12 points and 5 huge rebounds. Kelsey Plum had 12 points and 4 assists.

USA win women’s basketball gold and overall gold-medal count in Paris

France race up the court – Williams hits a shot, BUT SHE WAS INSIDE THE ARC!!

What a dreadful mistake by Williams! The officials discuss it, but her foot was clearly on the line.

It’s over!

3.8 ticks left. Copper hits first. And the second. France will need a 3 to force OT.

Stewart gets the ball inbounds to Copper. Williams immediately fouls.

USA 65-64 France, 0:05 left, 4th quarter: Two biggest free throws of Kelsey Plum’s life.

Makes the first. Makes the second.

France race down, and Williams hits a huge 3!

USA 63-61 France, 0:11 left, 4th quarter: Copper fouls Johannes. Can’t do that. France can score with the clock stopped, and Johannes indeed hits the first free throw. And the second.

USA inbound, which has been difficult, but they get it to Plum, and Williams fouls.

USA 63-59 France, 0:17 left, 4th quarter: Wilson misses the first but hits the second. Two-possession game. Timeout France.

USA 62-59 France, 0:17 left, 4th quarter: Fauthoux fakes a shot, Stewart bites and goes in the air, Fauthoux puts up the shot BUT STEWART RECOVERS TO DEFLECT THE SHOT!

Wilson rebound. Fouled. To the line.

USA 62-59 France, 0:41 left, 4th quarter: Can the USA make it a two-possession game in the final minute?

Not yet. Wilson travels under intense French pressure.

USA 62-59 France, 0:54 left, 4th quarter: Williams with an airball from 3-point range. Timeout France.

USA 62-59 France, 1:19 left, 4th quarter: Copper, who has been huge in the second half, scores on a strong drive.

USA 60-59 France, 1:32 left, 4th quarter: Copper misses a drive. Stewart rebound. Plum puts up a 3 with plenty of time on the shot clock. Why? Misses.

Williams hits a long 2. Timeout USA – that’s their last!

USA 60-57 France, 2:08 left, 4th quarter: Williams sinks both free throws. USA by 1.

Plum drives and draws the foul from Fauthoux. Solid play. Hits the free throws. USA by 3.

Johannes turns it over, losing her dribble and sending the ball out of bounds. This is the USA’s chance.

USA 58-55 France, 2:34 left, 4th quarter: Stewart hits one free throw but misses the second.

Salaun misses a 3 despite a good screen. Out of bounds, USA ball? Really?

Fortunate call, and Wilson’s jumper from the free-throw line hits the rim, bounces up, hits the top of the backboard, and falls back through.

Lucky sequence there for the USA. They follow up with good defense, but Stewart gets tied up on a rebound. Alternating possession to France.

Young fouls Williams with a hand to the face far away the ball. That’s five. Young is out.

USA 55-55 France, 3:45 left, 4th quarter: Ayayi misses, but Williams has the rebound. Misses, Stewart gets it, and Copper puts it in for the lead!

Williams drives at the other end and ties it!

Ayayi fouls Stewart, and the USA will call timeout.

This has turned into a terrific game. France took their 10-point lead on poor US play, but since the US rallied, France have raised their game.

USA 53-53 France, 4:35 left, 4th quarter: Ayayi picks Ionescu’s pocket. France can’t convert offensively.

Copper with a big rebound. Drives, draws a foul. Hits the free throws.

USA 51-53 France, 5:04 left, 4th quarter: Ionescu fouls Fauthoux with a little bump on the 3-point line. France is in the bonus and gets free throws. She makes both. France by 2.

USA 51-51 France, 5:15 left, 4th quarter: Ayayi feeds inside to Badiane, who makes a nice post move and restores the lead.

Wilson works against Badiane at the other end and draws a foul.

Breanna Stewart back in, as is Young, who has four fouls. You only get five. Badiane also has four.

Wilson ties it with two free throws.

USA 49-49 France, 5:54 left, 4th quarter: Miss for France, and two US players mistime their jumps for the rebound. France keep possession.

Collier allegedly fouls Ayayi. Replay says otherwise. That’s at least one missed call each way.

Ayayi hits both free throws.

Plum misses a long 3, and four US players miss a chance to get the rebound. They end up kicking it, and it’s a turnover.

USA 49-47 France, 6:40 left, 4th quarter: Copper draws a foul inside and hits both free throws. One of the least-known players on this team, Copper has had an impact here.

Badiane draws a foul driving against Wilson. She sinks both free throws. Tied again.

Plum is back in. Has Chelsea Gray played this half? Where’s Griner?

Collier travels. Ayayi misses a wide-open corner 3, and Collier gets the rebound. Collier posts up at the other end and draws a foul on a mismatch.

Wilson hits over a double-team.

USA 45-45 France, 8:01 left, 4th quarter: More good US defense, and Johannes flings up an airball.

Young misses another easy one inside and commits her third foul.

Johannes steps out of bounds with the ball under pressure.

Copper misses, and Young again commits a foul battling for the rebound. That’s four.

Badiane ties it.

In soccer terms, A’ja Wilson was Mallory Swanson and Alyssa Naeher wrapped into one in that quarter.

End 3rd quarter: USA 45-43 France

USA 43-43 France, 0:25 left, 3rd quarter: Wilson blocks a third shot in quick succession, but Young turns it over and fouls.

Johannes misses a tough jumper while falling. Copper gets the rebound. Rupert fouls her near midfield.

Another Ionescu assist, and it’s a beauty, finding Collier just as she springs free inside.

Other end, Badiane loses it, and Ionescu collects.

Long possession, and Collier misses a 3.

Turnover France.

Plum misses a turnaround jumper, France race the other way, and Johannes calmly drains a 3 over Wilson.

USA 41-40 France, 2:31 left, 3rd quarter: It’s all Wilson now. Double-teamed in the post, scores anyway.

Rupert misses a 3, and the rebound goes to … Wilson.

Ionescu takes it and finds Collier wide open for the drive, and the USA reclaim the lead.

USA 37-40 France, 3:16 left, 3rd quarter: Wilson with a massive block on Badiane.

Young misses, but Wilson has the rebound and draws a foul from Williams, who has been remarkably quiet during France’s run in this quarter.

Wilson hits two free throws.

And Wilson keeps up her good run at the other end, blocking a Lacan shot with emphasis. Johannes fouls Young in transition.

USA 35-40 France, 4:06 left, 3rd quarter: Young misses a 3, but Copper gets the offensive rebound and Stewart hits a tough drive.

Lacan beats everyone backdoor and scores.

Plum throws it out of bounds.

Sabrina Ionescu finally comes in.

USA 33-38 France, 5:19 left, 3rd quarter: Misses at either end.

Young dishes to Plum for a 3 – shades of the 3×3 in Tokyo!

Johannes is shaken up back at the other end, and the crowd wanted a foul on Wilson. Replay shows … ouch, yeah.

Lacan drives, scores and draws a foul from Plum. Hits the free throw.

Would this be a good time to point out that France gave up a 22-0 run against Belgium in the semi-final?

USA 30-35 France, 5:59 left, 3rd quarter: Badiane steals a Plum pass. Wilson fouls Badiane on a drive. France will go to the line to take a 10-point lead.

Badiane hits both.

The USA can barely get the ball inbounds. Copper tries a low-percentage drive, but France bail them out with a turnover.

PLUM WITH A CORNER 3. The French run ends at 10.

Ayayi tries to drive on Stewart. Plum gets the rebound and feeds Wilson in transition. Lead is cut in half.

US steal. Copper off to the races and is fouled.

Timeout France.

If Diana Taurasi was on this roster as a steadying influence, then why isn’t she coming in to steady things? If she wasn’t here as a steadying influence, why was she on the roster instead of Caitlin Clark?

(The answer is because Clark leads the WNBA by a wide margin in turnovers, but …)