Welcome to the The Gold Standard, hosted by WNBA and Team USA basketball legend Lisa Leslie and NWSL and USWNT great Kelley O'Hara.
In today's final episode, our hosts recap their trip to Paris to see the Summer Games in person! Kelley and Lisa discuss what it was like seeing both the USWNT and USA Basketball win their gold medal matches — plus how it felt to celebrate with the teams at their epic after parties. Later, they wrap up by talking about their favorite Olympic memories from years past.
Watch along for expert insight from gold medalists, exclusive behind-the-scenes stories, and pure enjoyment of the Summer Games.
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One of the largest storylines of the Olympics' final week actually stemmed from the first week of competition, as USA Gymnastics battles to retain the Olympic bronze medal won by Jordan Chiles in the individual floor final.
Chiles was awarded bronze after an inquiry from her coaches successfully challenged her original difficulty score, adding a crucial 0.1 to her tally to place her third over Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu.
How did Jordan Chiles lose her bronze medal?
After the final, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that the initial inquiry — the one that resulted in the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) changing Chiles's score — was submitted four seconds after the one-minute deadline. The ruling dictated that Chiles's original score of 13.666 be reinstated, elevating Barbosu to third place and stripping Chiles of her bronze medal.
Truth be told, the move is a drastic measure usually reserved for doping or cheating allegations. It's incredibly rare to force an athlete to return an Olympic medal due to a scoring mistake.
USA Gymnastics submits evidence to refute Romanian appeal
USA Gymnastics is not backing down, stating on Sunday that they had submitted photo and video evidence proving that the team made the inquiry within the allotted time period.
"The video footage provided was not available to USA Gymnastics prior to the tribunal’s decision and thus USAG did not have the opportunity to previously submit it," the Federation wrote.
"The initial error occurred in the scoring by FIG, and the second error was during the CAS appeal process, where the USOPC was not given adequate time or notice to effectively challenge the decision."
While both athletes might be happy to share a bronze, USA Gymnastics is now engaged in an appeal battle with a number of governing nations to preserve Chiles's accomplishment.
"We remain dedicated to supporting her as an Olympic champion and will continue to work diligently to resolve this matter swiftly and fairly," concluded USAG.
USA Basketball won an historic eighth-straight Olympic gold in the final team event of the Paris Games on Sunday, narrowly taking down host nation France by a wildly tight score of 67-66.
While the US entered the game as heavy favorites, France led in the second half by as many as 10 points, with defensive sturdiness and a raucous home crowd propelling them to a wildly tight 67-66 final score.
French defense nearly upsets Team USA
It was Team USA's closest game in Olympic history, only avoiding overtime thanks to Team France star Gabby Williams's foot touching the three-point line as she sunk the final bucket.
The US came into the matchup boasting a massive point differential, but France almost immediately flipped the script, forcing the defending champs into 19 turnovers — 13 in the first half alone.
The US had scored just 25 points by halftime — the lowest recorded in Paris — but France also struggled to capitalize on turnovers, shooting below 30% from the field in the first half.
Bench boosts USA to Olympic gold medal win
While it took some time for tournament stars A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart to find their footing, the US saw key contributions off the bench in the second half. First-time Olympian Kahleah Copper became the spark the team needed, adding 10 fourth-quarter points and taking control alongside Kelsey Plum and fellow first-timer Sabrina Ionescu.
Wilson ultimately bounced back, recording 21 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks to close out the slim win, with 15 of those points coming in the second half.
Olympic MVP A'ja Wilson leads all-tournament team
Wilson was crowned Tournament MVP after the final whistle, joined on the all-tournament team by USA teammate Stewart, France's Williams, Belgium's Emma Meesseman, and Australia's Alanna Smith.
Diana Taurasi, who didn't see any playing time on Sunday, earned a record sixth Olympic gold medal, breaking a tie with longtime teammate Sue Bird for the most in Olympic basketball history.
Ultimately, the game's further professionalization around the globe produced Team USA's toughest Olympic battle yet. But despite the late-tournament challenge, they managed to carry the weight of a now-61-game winning streak all the way to the gold.
The Paris Olympics wrapped up over the weekend, with the USWNT reclaiming their place atop the major tournament mountain after earning their fifth gold medal on Saturday. USWNT forward Mallory Swanson scored the game's lone goal in the 57th minute to lead the team to their eventual 1-0 win over Brazil.
The US never trailed at the 2024 Olympics and became the first women's team in tournament history to record shutouts through all three knockout rounds.
Second-half adjustments secured USWNT win
Brazil looked the better of the two teams in the first half, bypassing the USWNT's midfield to pressure their backline with probing, vertical play. Recent Chicago Red Stars signing Ludmila spurred chaos among the USWNT defense, striking what would have been the game's opening goal if she hadn't been ruled offside.
The US held fast to a 0-0 scoreline at the half, then worked their way back into the match. A well-weighted pass from Korbin Albert ultimately split Brazil's defense and slotted Swanson in on goal.
USA's World Cup rebound streak kept alive
The victory represents a monumental bounce-back after a disappointing 2023 World Cup — not to mention an early indication of new manager Emma Hayes's future with the team.
To date, the USWNT has consistently walked away either one — but never both — of the international women's soccer cycle's two major titles, keeping alive their streak of capturing Olympic gold the year after losing a World Cup.
As for Hayes, the new boss is 9-0-1 in her first 10 games with the USWNT, making an immediate impact in the team's ability to get the job done on the biggest of world stages.
Joy caffeinates USWNT's frontline
The USWNT's "Triple Espresso" frontline trio — Swanson, Sophia Smith, and Trinity Rodman — contributed at least three goals each to the USA's 12-goal Olympic tally, including a game-winner apiece in the knockout stages.
France's Marie-Antoinette Katoto finished as the tournament's leading scorer with five goals overall, followed by Swanson's four.
"I think most importantly, you’re probably hearing it, we’re playing with joy," Swanson told reporters after the match. "We’re having so much fun. I’m just so happy."
Hayes, who joined the team in May, echoed Swanson's sentiment, saying, "I'm so excited about what we can do together. It's been 75 days, baby!"
Welcome to The Gold Standard, hosted by WNBA and Team USA basketball legend Lisa Leslie and NWSL and USWNT great Kelley O'Hara.
In today's episode, our hosts preview both the USWNT's gold medal match against Brazil and Team USA's Olympic final against France. Later, Kelley and Lisa talk all things track and field with four-time gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross.
Watch along for expert insight from gold medalists, exclusive behind-the-scenes stories, and pure enjoyment of the Summer Games.
Subscribe to Just Women's Sports on YouTube to never miss an episode.
The 91st, your one-stop-shop for all things USWNT at the 2024 Paris Olympics is back and breaking down the Olympic semifinals.
The United States Women's National Team is back on top of the soccer world following a 1-0 victory over Brazil in the 2024 Olympic Gold Medal match. Hosts Jordan Angeli, Duda Pavao, and Jess McDonald breakdown Alyssa Naeher’s incredible performance, Mal Swanson’s soccer intelligence, and this team’s legacy amongst the great US squads of the past.
Later, the hosts also debate the importance of Olympic lifeguards, track tiaras, and Despicable Me socks.
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In another episode of The Late Sub, Claire breaks down how the Olympics are the vibey-est tournament around, how individuals stepping up despite tactical balance doesn't always make sense, and how this USWNT generation should be remembered plus a quick look to the future.
She also salutes Brazil, who reminded the world what they can do at their very best by sending international football legend Marta off with an Olympic silver medal.
The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes in women’s sports. This is the weekly rundown you’ve been missing, covering the USWNT, NWSL, WNBA, college hoops, and whatever else is popping off in women’s sports each week. Special guest appearances with the biggest names in women’s sports make The Late Sub a must-listen for every fan. Follow Claire on X/Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the Just Women’s Sports newsletter for more.
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Olympic basketball enters the semifinals today, with a red-hot Team USA taking another important step toward seizing their eighth-straight Olympic gold.
After soundly defeating Nigeria 88-74 in their quarterfinal, the US cruised to a comfortable 83-64 win over Australia this morning to reach Sunday's gold medal match. Plus, they got the job done by recording double-digit wins throughout the Paris tournament.
The last time the US failed to make an Olympic gold medal game was in 1992, when they last suffered any defeat at the Olympic level.
Team USA extends Olympic win streak with semifinal victory
The victory gave the US their 60th straight win at the Olympic Games, once again showcasing depth and talent from every player on the roster.
After finishing pool play with an impressive +58 point differential, the team's dominance has continued in the knockout rounds.
The reigning Olympic champions pushed the margin even further against Australia, with their lead ballooning to 30 points early in the fourth quarter.
France vs. Belgium will decide gold medal match
The US must now wait to find out their gold medal opponent later this afternoon, and today's second semifinal could bring even more fireworks when it tips off at 3 PM ET.
Host nation France will take on Belgium, a team with a wealth of fans traveling to Paris to cheer on their national team.
France has appeared self-assured throughout the Olympic tournament, with a pool play loss to Australia their only blemish thus far. But Belgium has looked similarly dangerous, with their only loss coming at the hands of the US in the group stage.
Belgium forward Emma Meesseman set a new record for consecutive 20-point Olympic performances with seven, a stat that dates back to the Tokyo Games. France, however, should feel confident in their attempt to better their bronze medal finish in Tokyo, relying on Marine Johannes's sharpshooting combined with Gabby Williams's stellar overall play.
How to watch Sunday's Olympic gold medal game
With 60-straight wins behind them, the US has only one game left between them and historic Olympic glory. They'll go for gold against either France or Belgium on Sunday at 9:30 AM ET, with live coverage across NBC networks.
The USWNT is one match away from their ultimate goal after making their way through a grueling Olympic tournament to advance to Saturday's gold medal game against Brazil.
This will be the third Olympic gold medal match meeting for the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup finalists, with the US defeating Brazil at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Games to top the podium.
Retiring Marta fuels Brazil's podium push
While the USWNT — fresh off a disappointing 2023 World Cup run — are undoubtedly motivated in their push for gold, Brazil might have an even greater galvanizing force. Legendary Brazil footballer Marta announced in April that the 2024 Games would be her last international tournament with Brazil — a team that's never before won a World Cup or Olympic title.
What's more, Marta's teammates carried the burden of reaching the gold medal game: The 38-year-old will return on Saturday after a two-game red card suspension dating back to the team's final group stage game against Spain.
Attacking key to USWNT Olympic gold medal success
The US most recently defeated Brazil 1-0 at the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup final behind Lindsey Horan's 46th-minute goal in stoppage time. That said, Brazil arguably has more immediate momentum after rattling off two major upsets in the Olympic knockout rounds, first against France and then Spain.
To win, the US will have to stifle Brazil's potent attack in what will likely be an open end-to-end battle, while simultaneously converting their chances in front of goal.
Germany denies World Cup champs in bronze medal match
Germany beat Spain 1-0 in this morning's bronze medal contest, leaving the reigning World Cup champions and early tournament favorites without a medal for their efforts in Paris.
Giulia Gwinn put Germany ahead in the second half, sinking a penalty after being fouled in Spain's 18-yard box. Later, Gotham FC goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger once again played the hero for Germany, saving an Alexia Putellas penalty kick in second-half stoppage time to secure the clean sheet.
How to watch USWNT vs. Brazil in the Olympic gold-medal match
The USWNT kicks off the gold medal match against Brazil on Saturday at 11 AM ET, with live coverage across NBC networks.
In perhaps their toughest Olympic task so far, USA Volleyball took down Brazil 3-2 in this morning’s back-and-forth semifinal to advance to Sunday’s gold medal match.
The win guarantees the US a seventh Olympic podium finish and the chance to repeat their Tokyo gold medal win — a feat they accomplished by beating Brazil back in 2021.
A volleyball rivalry with Olympic history
The longtime rival nations have met on the Olympic court many times, including five medal contests over the last eight Olympics.
In those five matches, Brazil walked away with three medals (two gold, one bronze), while Team USA notched one gold and one bronze in two wins.
Team USA ends Brazil's Olympic gold medal hopes
While there wasn’t a medal on the line in this morning's five-set thriller, the teams definitely played like there was. The US struck first, taking the first set before trading the next three with Brazil, who forced the deciding fifth set largely off the outstanding play of star Gabi Guimarães.
But the States shifted into gear in the fifth, downing Brazil 15-11 off a Kathryn Plummer kill to clinch a spot in Sunday's final.
Plummer led the US with 26 points, while fellow outside hitter Avery Skinner and opposite Annie Drews contributed an impressive 19 and 18, respectively.
What's next for USA Volleyball
Today's win might have been the USA’s toughest challenge on their path to back-to-back gold, but to complete the job, they’ll have to take down the winner of today’s Turkey-Italy semifinal.
The volleyball gold medal match will kick off on Sunday at 7 AM ET, with live coverage across NBC networks.
USA Beach Volleyball loses Olympic medal bid
Over on the sand, Team USA’s last hope for a beach volleyball medal vanished in Tuesday’s quarterfinal round, making this the first Summer Olympics without a US team on the podium since 2000.
Last-standing US pair Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes fell in straight sets to Switzerland’s Nina Brunner and Tanja Hüberli, just one day after fellow US duo Kristen Nuss and Taryn Kloth fell in the round of 16.
It’s a disappointing finish for a national contingent that’s claimed four of the previous five gold medals — most recently by Alix Klineman and April Ross’s Tokyo A-Team.