On the evening of August 11, in the Olympic women’s basketball gold medal match, the French women’s basketball team ultimately lost to the U.S. women’s team with a score of 66-67, missing out on the gold medal.
In this game, the U.S. scored the first 4 points, but the French team responded strongly with a 5-0 run to quickly take the lead. However, the French shooting percentage then dropped dramatically, scoring only 9 points in the first quarter. Both teams’ shooting percentages did not exceed 30% in the first half. The French team had more attempts, while the U.S. relied on free throws, resulting in a halftime tie of 25-25.
In the second half, the U.S. offense struggled at the start, allowing France to launch a 10-0 run and open up a double-digit lead. In a critical moment, the U.S. scored 8 consecutive points to stay close. Both teams were then locked in a tight battle. In the final moments of the fourth quarter, Williams hit a three-pointer to keep France’s hopes alive, but her last attempt was ruled a two-point shot due to stepping on the line, leading to France’s narrow one-point loss to the U.S.
Throughout the game, Williams was one of the few standout players for the French team. She was also the most consistent player for France in this Olympic tournament. Playing 32 minutes as a starter, she made 7 out of 16 shots, including 3 out of 6 from beyond the arc and 2 out of 2 from the free-throw line, scoring a team-high 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists, along with 3 steals, 2 turnovers, and 3 fouls, with a +2 plus-minus rating. Notably, Williams is the only player on the French team who scored in double digits in all games during this Olympic tournament.