The 2024 Paris Olympics have drawn to a close, leaving basketball fans worldwide with memories of extraordinary performances, intense finishes, and historic achievements. In this recap, we’ll take you through the final matches that decided the medals in both the men’s and women’s tournaments.
Our journey begins with the gold medal games, where the United States continued its basketball dominance, but not without facing fierce challenges. We’ll explore how the American women clinched their eighth consecutive gold in a one-point victory over France, and how the USA’s men’s team, led by Stephen Curry’s Olympic debut, overcame a talented French squad.
Here’s a summary of the medal winners in the 2024 Olympic basketball tournaments:
| Medal | Women’s Tournament | Men’s Tournament |
| Gold | United States | United States |
| Silver | France | France |
| Bronze | Australia | Serbia |
The Stars and Stripes Reign Supreme: USA’s Double Gold Triumph
Women’s Final: USA 67-66 France
In a historical final, Team USA clinched their eighth consecutive gold medal by the skin of their teeth, edging out a fearless French side 67-66. The match had the Americans trailing by 10 points in the third quarter, a deficit that would have sent other teams into panic mode.
But panic isn’t in the USA’s vocabulary. Kahleah Copper and A’ja Wilson led a comeback with relentless pressure and clutch shooting that gradually wore down the French defence, which had until then been persistent.
In the final seconds, Gabby Williams — the French power forward who had sacrificed her WNBA season for this Olympic dream — launched a desperate shot as the clock ticked down. The ball found its mark, and for a heartbeat, it seemed as if France had forced overtime. But Williams’ foot was on the three-point line, turning what could have been a game-tying three into a two-pointer.
“I knew right away it was a two-pointer; I’m disappointed,” Williams reflected afterwards, her voice tinged with a bittersweet mix of pride and regret. “I’m really happy with what we’ve done (with Team France). I don’t think we should hold our heads down. Of course there is disappointment, but I think in a few hours we will celebrate, because what we did was incredible.”
A’ja Wilson, named MVP of the tournament, embodied the grit that carried Team USA to victory. “I stopped looking for the calls and I was just like, ‘Something’s got to work’,” Wilson said. “I’m not going to shy from it. I leaned on my defence more and that’s what got things going not only for myself but for my team as well.”
The USA roster, a blend of seasoned Olympians like Diana Taurasi — who secured her sixth gold medal — and first-timers such as Copper, Young, and Ionescu, proved that teamwork and adaptability are just as crucial as individual talent on the Olympic stage.
Men’s Final: USA 98-87 France
In his long-awaited Olympic debut, Stephen Curry turned Bercy Arena into his personal playground, leading Team USA to a 98-87 victory over France.
The game was a see-saw battle until Curry decided enough was enough. In a two-minute span, he drained four three-pointers, leaving the French defence unable to contain the basketball legend.
“I impressed myself with that one, for sure,” Curry admitted post-game, his characteristic humility belying the level of his performance. “All I saw was the rim; I didn’t see who was in front of me.”
But it would be a disservice to paint this as a one-man show. The French team, spearheaded by the phenomenal 20-year-old Victor Wembanyama, pushed the Americans to their limits. Wembanyama’s 26-point performance was a glimpse into the future of international basketball, a future that promises to be very bright indeed.
“I’m proud having done what we have done here in France in front of our fans,” Wembanyama said, his words carrying the weight of a nation’s hopes. “I’m going to let this soak in and realize what’s going on. Nobody is going to take (that experience) from me. I’m learning. I’m worried for the opponents in a couple of years, everywhere. We’re growing. Basketball is growing here (in France).”
For Team USA, this victory was the culmination of a two-year journey that began with LeBron James reaching out to potential team members. The result was a dream team featuring 11 NBA All-Stars and four former league MVPs.
The Battle for Bronze: Australia and Serbia Shine
Women’s Bronze: Australia 85-81 Belgium
In their bronze medal match, the Australian Opals defeated Belgium 85-81 in a contest that showcased the best of international basketball. At the heart of Australia’s triumph was Ezi Magbegor, whose performance was incredible to watch.
Magbegor’s stat line reads like something out of a video game: 30 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks. This was, according to FIBA, the most efficient performance in Olympic history. Let that sink in for a moment. In the annals of Olympic basketball, stretching back decades and encompassing countless legendary players, Magbegor’s bronze medal game stands alone.
“It was the last game: bronze-medal game,” Magbegor said, her words humble despite the magnitude of her achievement. “I have to give credit to my teammates. They did a great job of holding it down throughout the whole tournament and showing up every day. They’ve done a great job rallying around me, too.”
The game itself was interesting from start to finish. Australia raced to an early lead, only for Belgium to claw their way back into contention. The see-saw battle continued into the final quarter, with neither team able to overcome. It was Magbegor, fittingly, who made the crucial plays in the last minutes, securing the win and the bronze for Australia.
For the Opals, this bronze medal marks their sixth Olympic medal in basketball, a haul that includes three silver and three bronze. More than that, it represents a triumphant turnaround for a team that began their Olympic campaign with a shock defeat to Nigeria.
“This may go down as one of the greatest wins in Opals history,” said coach Sandy Brondello, her voice brimming with pride. “I’m just really proud of this team. It has been a joy for me to coach. They buy in… It was about us making the plays when they mattered. We made shots and we got shots when we needed to.”
Lauren Jackson, watching from the sidelines in what may have been her final involvement with the national team, couldn’t contain her excitement about Magbegor’s performance and what it means for the future of Australian basketball. “Ezi was incredible,” Jackson said. “Ezi’s got it inside of her, and she’s got to be the one to bring it out… That was special to watch. She’s freaking amazing.”
As the Opals celebrated their bronze, there was a sense that this wasn’t just a capstone to a successful Olympic campaign, but the beginning of a new era in Australian basketball. With Magbegor leading the charge, the future looks bright indeed for the green and gold.
Men’s Bronze: Serbia 93-83 Germany
Serbia bounced back from a semi-final loss to claim bronze, defeating Germany 93-83. The victory marks Serbia’s third Olympic medal in men’s basketball.
Jokic, the three-time NBA MVP, showed everyone why he’s considered one of the best players in the world. His triple-double — 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists — would be extraordinary in any game, let alone a high-stakes bronze medal match.
While Jokic was the fulcrum, every player contributed to the victory. They dominated in the paint early, with Jokic either scoring or finding open teammates. As Germany adjusted, Serbia’s perimeter players stepped up, knocking down crucial three-pointers in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
Captain Bogdan Bogdanovic, who contributed 16 points to the victory, expressed a mixture of pride and lingering regret in his post-game comments. “It’s a huge success, we won the bronze medal at the Olympics, of course there is some sadness about that game against the USA but we cannot go backwards,” he said. “We can only be proud about what we achieved today. It was a very difficult game to wake up at 7 a.m. and to come here at 11 to play. I’m so proud of the achievement we had.”
For Germany, this bronze medal game was not what they expected from what had been a promising tournament. After their performance in the group stage, many had tipped them as potential finalists. Guard Dennis Schroder was particularly self-critical: “Today, of course, we gave everything, but I could have played a better game, brought more energy, being a better floor general, making sure everybody was in the right spaces. That game is on me.”
Schroder still found a silver lining, highlighting the progress of German basketball on the world stage. “We showed that German basketball is one of the best countries in the world. We got the World Cup last year, we wanted to accomplish more this year, but sometimes in life you can’t get everything you want.”
As coach Svetislav Pesic, who at 74 may have overseen his last Olympic campaign, put it: “Basketball is the most important sport in our country, and we must use this success to improve our national league and the sport generally. We will analyze this tournament and then prepare for LA (Los Angeles) 2028.”
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